From what I can gather you're doing pretty well at decent stakes with online cash.
Live takes some getting used to but there's no reason at all why you shouldn't do really well.
I'm definitely opening bigger than I would online, they love calling.
I mentioned a few pages back on my thread a hand i played a while ago. A 3 way all in pre for just under a £1000 and when we turn them over a guy shows us his Ace 5 off! He went through probably £1000 in about an hour.
Got to be prepared for the swings though. Every so often that guy hits and you're left shaking your head as he keeps turning over rags which somehow have become the nuts by the river.
Don't know where you play but look to be selective. I do pretty well where I play now and I'm very average at the game. I used to play a lot of cash at DTD and the standard is different again. Plenty of times you can sit at a table and look round and see 3 or 4 players who make a living from the game. Sitting deep in a 1/2 with those guys is no fun at at all.
Been a while since I last posted. A lot has happened since then.
I had another deep run in the monday main til I went a threw it away with K5 trying to squeeze a button raise. I ended up 7th in that I believe.
I won the 12:30 BH two days ago and i've just gone and won it again tonight - loving this tournament at the minute.
However i'm even more pleased about tonights win because of the mannor in which I did it.
I came into the final table with 6bb - one of the shortstacks. The chip leader at the time had near enough 50bb and had the rest of us covered by a huge amount. It was clear the other two relative shortstacks were keen to ladder as they thought the tournament was a full gone conclusion... they tightened up massively, so I took full advantage by throwing my 6bb around. I doubled up when my pocket 4s held v chip leader, however lost it 2 hands later after the shortstack limped on the button. I had J4os and had no intention of squeezing as I was short and villain only had 6bb and wasnt folding. Flop came KK4 and I felt obliged to check/call any bet. He had K9.
So i went down to 5bb 6 handed and was the shortstack. I tripled up a couple of hands later shoving A4 and getting two calls. Flop of A high sealed the pot v 33. And when chip leader shoved on my bb from sb with A8 and I saw AQs I got up to around 25bb where I could throw my weight around a bit.
I bullied the table as the other players were still playing passive poker and managed to get the slight chip lead. After another guy knocked a few people out we were HU.
He was a bit tricky to play HU really. He limped every SB... never raised so it was hard to define any range at all. He got the chip lead 70/30 and bullied me a bit. However it was clear that each flop we saw he wouldnt put in a single chip unless he had hit in some manor... even in position. That made his game easier to work on and after I DU AJ v KQ all in pre I managed to squeeze out the win.
Pleased with that... one of my best wins. Not in terms of money but in terms of my all round play.
I've just gone and won the 12:30 BH for the 3rd time this week. Think thats 3/5 entries I've won it. That's a bit crazy that!
Pleased with how I played again.
Here's my favourite hand of the night for you all...
shortman01
Small blind
30.00
30.00
4817.50
strawbs028
Big blind
60.00
90.00
2050.00
Your hole cards
6
5
TOSHMALONE
Call
60.00
150.00
682.50
BennyHolde
Fold
Landlord
Call
60.00
210.00
7710.00
gazza127
Call
60.00
270.00
3795.00
shortman01
Call
30.00
300.00
4787.50
strawbs028
Check
Flop
6
6
5
shortman01
Check
strawbs028
Check
TOSHMALONE
Bet
120.00
420.00
562.50
Landlord
Call
120.00
540.00
7590.00
gazza127
Call
120.00
660.00
3675.00
shortman01
Call
120.00
780.00
4667.50
strawbs028
Call
120.00
900.00
1930.00
Turn
7
shortman01
Check
strawbs028
Check
TOSHMALONE
All-in
562.50
1462.50
0.00
Landlord
Call
562.50
2025.00
7027.50
gazza127
Call
562.50
2587.50
3112.50
shortman01
Call
562.50
3150.00
4105.00
strawbs028
Call
562.50
3712.50
1367.50
River
10
shortman01
Check
strawbs028
All-in
1367.50
5080.00
0.00
Landlord
Call
1367.50
6447.50
5660.00
gazza127
All-in
3112.50
9560.00
0.00
shortman01
Fold
Landlord
Call
1745.00
11305.00
3915.00
strawbs028
Show
J
2
TOSHMALONE
Show
10
8
Landlord
Show
4
7
gazza127
Show
6
5
gazza127
Win
Full House, 6s and 5s
11305.00
11305.00
I flat on the button as 65s is a hand which plays best in a multiway pot when its hidden... Its not like im going to get attached to a pair of sixes on a AK6 flop... however flopping the nuts was simply incredible especially as everyone wanted to get involved cause there was a bounty on the line!
Although those that accuse me of running well at the minute can take a look at this hand which happened 3 handed on the FT.
gazza127
Small blind
1000.00
1000.00
72748.75
mikah
Big blind
2000.00
3000.00
58391.25
Your hole cards
K
A
homersmpsn
All-in
21860.00
24860.00
0.00
gazza127
All-in
72748.75
97608.75
0.00
mikah
Fold
gazza127
Unmatched bet
51888.75
45720.00
51888.75
gazza127
Show
K
A
homersmpsn
Show
K
A
Flop
6
4
7
Turn
5
River
3
homersmpsn
Win
Flush to the Ace
45720.00
45720.00
Yuk.
But I reigned it in and pulled out the win. What a tournament eh?? If only I could play like this in every tournament. I found myself entering a tournament earlier and I was just clicking buttons! But for some reason this tournament has brought out the best in me this week. Lets hope it continues.
Since starting this diary I have had many many ups and downs. I had a pretty bad end to May and a poor June on the MTT tables. Not sure why exactly as I would still find myself cashing a lot - I just wasn't picking up the top prizes. This may have been down to variance... losing the odd flip. Of course its a serious possibility that I wasn't playing my best, perhaps tightening up too much and not taking the chances you need to take to win a tournament. I didn't play too much in July but I was getting some better results in the few tournaments i had played. August was a complete mixture between the good and the bad. I started slowly, but after a couple of weeks of August I had made £700 profit which I then completely went and lost before the end of August! That was a terrible downswing. I don't think I cashed in about 60 games (or atleast nothing of any significance) and confidence was mega low. I had mentioned I was thinking of taking a break on here.... however that same night I went on cash and walked away £400 in the black... so naturally I thought i'd continue to play.
I'm so glad I did because ever since that night I have had some incredible results. First Monday of September I came 3rd in the Monday main. I then came 4th in the 10pm BH on the Tuesday, came 3rd in the 9pm rebuy on the Thursday, came 2nd in the following Monday main, came 1st in the 3pm £22 BH on the Thursday, came 2nd in the following Wednesdays 10pm BH, came 9th in the following Monday main and have won the 00:30 BH 3 times since then. Hmmmm. Thin brag. Lol.
According the sharkscope I have played 102 MTTs in September with a profit of £1991 which is undoubtably my best record for a single month since starting playing poker last July - i've even got one of those little sharks next to my name on sharkscope if you limit the search to just september!
Cash on the other hand has been incredibly swingy... which is odd as I thought it was supposed to be less variant! I've been £700 up to then being £700 down... to then being in profit again. Its been a complete rollercoaster but as far as i can make out im currently in the black on the tables... but it just shows that i still have adjustments to make to my game for cash.
This post isn't meant as a brag (even if it comes across that way). I've posted my lows on this diary as well as my highs which I think is important to highlight to any readers who may be new to the game. There will be times you hate poker... there will be times you lose a lot of money, however if you keep doing the right things, long term it should pay off. Poker is an incredibly fickle game... and people can respond accordingly by tilting massively - something which I am guilty of on occassions. I need to realise that you can't win every hand no matter how much i'd want to. Pick your spots and the results will come. After all poker is a game of patience... so its important to stick through the bad times on both the short and long time scale... whether thats in one MTT or cash table or across a months worth of poker. So to go through the swingy patch and share that with the forum... its nice to be able to share a good month like this.
Now I did say that this month has been good all round up top. Some of you may know that I had been playing poker more this past month because of my work situation. My job couldn't afford to pay me, so I refused to go into work (it had happened before I had continued to come in... but I lost patience when it happened time and time again). It was a whole complicated mess as I had never actually signed a contract with them when I started (I initially started on 4 weeks work experience, however 8 months later I was still there and a contract never got sorted). So that was a bit of a nightmare.
However... the good news. I've been paid for the work I was owed (yay) and a new company has been set up across similar lines of the old one but with slight differences, including a new perogative as well as a new MD. I have been given a contract. Delightful. Security at last. It is a start up so its not entirely secure but with the new MD in charge and the plans we have laid out the company is going to be a lot more successful than the other one I worked for. I've been given a major role in the data analysis side, and its nice to actually have input into what the company actually does on a day to day basis as well as development plans for the coming years. Its certainly an exciting prospect and i'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.
I'm only 22 you see, so having a secure job is essential to moving out - something which I would have done a long time ago if I had the dollar.
So sorry if this post is a bit long and if it sounds like a brag. I've shared the lows. Now its time to share the highs. Life is good. Please God let it continue.
Sounds like a pretty good month. You've been open through your whole diary, so don't feel uncomfortable telling us when it's going well. Great news on the job front.
Now for my little rant
Why have people started saying "if I had the dollar" or words to that effect?
I'm old and cantankerous,I don't like it, it annoys me, please stop it, please.
September has been a good month all round for me. Lets start with poker as thats why we're here! Since starting this diary I have had many many ups and downs. I had a pretty bad end to May and a poor June on the MTT tables. Not sure why exactly as I would still find myself cashing a lot - I just wasn't picking up the top prizes. This may have been down to variance... losing the odd flip. Of course its a serious possibility that I wasn't playing my best, perhaps tightening up too much and not taking the chances you need to take to win a tournament. I didn't play too much in July but I was getting some better results in the few tournaments i had played. August was a complete mixture between the good and the bad. I started slowly, but after a couple of weeks of August I had made £700 profit which I then completely went and lost before the end of August! That was a terrible downswing. I don't think I cashed in about 60 games (or atleast nothing of any significance) and confidence was mega low. I had mentioned I was thinking of taking a break on here.... however that same night I went on cash and walked away £400 in the black... so naturally I thought i'd continue to play. I'm so glad I did because ever since that night I have had some incredible results. First Monday of September I came 3rd in the Monday main. I then came 4th in the 10pm BH on the Tuesday, came 3rd in the 9pm rebuy on the Thursday, came 2nd in the following Monday main, came 1st in the 3pm £22 BH on the Thursday, came 2nd in the following Wednesdays 10pm BH, came 9th in the following Monday main and have won the 00:30 BH 3 times since then. Hmmmm. Thin brag. Lol. According the sharkscope I have played 102 MTTs in September with a profit of £1991 which is undoubtably my best record for a single month since starting playing poker last July - i've even got one of those little sharks next to my name on sharkscope if you limit the search to just september! Cash on the other hand has been incredibly swingy... which is odd as I thought it was supposed to be less variant! I've been £700 up to then being £700 down... to then being in profit again. Its been a complete rollercoaster but as far as i can make out im currently in the black on the tables... but it just shows that i still have adjustments to make to my game for cash. This post isn't meant as a brag (even if it comes across that way). I've posted my lows on this diary as well as my highs which I think is important to highlight to any readers who may be new to the game. There will be times you hate poker... there will be times you lose a lot of money, however if you keep doing the right things, long term it should pay off. Poker is an incredibly fickle game... and people can respond accordingly by tilting massively - something which I am guilty of on occassions. I need to realise that you can't win every hand no matter how much i'd want to. Pick your spots and the results will come. After all poker is a game of patience... so its important to stick through the bad times on both the short and long time scale... whether thats in one MTT or cash table or across a months worth of poker. So to go through the swingy patch and share that with the forum... its nice to be able to share a good month like this. Now I did say that this month has been good all round up top. Some of you may know that I had been playing poker more this past month because of my work situation. My job couldn't afford to pay me, so I refused to go into work (it had happened before I had continued to come in... but I lost patience when it happened time and time again). It was a whole complicated mess as I had never actually signed a contract with them when I started (I initially started on 4 weeks work experience, however 8 months later I was still there and a contract never got sorted). So that was a bit of a nightmare. However... the good news. I've been paid for the work I was owed (yay) and a new company has been set up across similar lines of the old one but with slight differences, including a new perogative as well as a new MD. I have been given a contract. Delightful. Security at last. It is a start up so its not entirely secure but with the new MD in charge and the plans we have laid out the company is going to be a lot more successful than the other one I worked for. I've been given a major role in the data analysis side, and its nice to actually have input into what the company actually does on a day to day basis as well as development plans for the coming years. Its certainly an exciting prospect and i'm looking forward to seeing where it goes. I'm only 22 you see, so having a secure job is essential to moving out - something which I would have done a long time ago if I had the dollar. So sorry if this post is a bit long and if it sounds like a brag. I've shared the lows. Now its time to share the highs. Life is good. Please God let it continue. Posted by gazza127
Yeah nice post and all that, but just thought I'd say that having a shark symbol is sooo August
Went £200 down pretty quick. One hand I tried something which was incidentally shown on the show. They commended my play... just too bad villain had probably one of the two hands which could call me.
I logged in later and had changed that -200 into +100 (which was nice). I was going to leave however on the hand I was going to leave I pick up the Q high flush draw on the flop and got it all in facing 52 (also the flush draw). He ended up hitting his pair however and I lost about 100 quid. Decided id play one more orbit and got caught on a 774 flop with A4 against AA....
So all that work to get back into profit and I threw it away within about 5 minutes. -100 for the day.
So... today has been the mix of the good and the bad.
Played the main - crashed out Played the mini - crashed out set of 10s to a guy who couldnt fold aces... which he binked the 3rd on the river. Played the deepstack - crashed out (see above hand) Played the £1000 speed rebuy - Ended up finishing 2nd which was nice. Lost Q10s to A4s HU all in pre as we were both pretty shallow - perhaps I could have been more patient though. Played the £2000 rebuy - Ended up finishing 3rd. Was running quite well and looked good to get to HU. Then I tried to squeeze the small stack on a 456 flop thinking there was no way he could have part of the board. He managed to find a call with a bare 5... and that was me done.
Cash today has also been crazy. Went down £200 early doors, however found a nice table where I could squeeze value and got it all back.
So im in a bit of profit today but im sure it could have been a whole lot more if I had stayed a bit more patient in the rebuys. Dohhhhhhhh.
Ohhhh and I have Sat into the SPT semi on Sunday. Heres hoping I can bink a seat. Man that'd be nice as I really want to go. Can't justify buying in direct - so if I can't sat in I might go looking for people to stake me... if anyone is crazy enough to that is.
What's your BR management like gazza? Just curious. I figure if you can play 100NL you can surely afford a one-off SPT entry? Posted by F_Ivanovic
Hmmm. I do hate it when people ask me about ny brm. Lets just say its not the best. I only jump on 100nl when I see what I consider an easier table. I play 50nl mostly... and im probably not even rolled for that according to strict brm. Lets just say that I can afford to buy in direct to spt but it would take a chunk out of my roll... something which I dont really want to do.
OK sorry, was just curious. I think not having a good BRM is fine dependant on your situation. So long as your not playing poker professionally having an aggressive BRM is fine - without having an aggressive BRM I would never have got to playing ho high 3/4 years ago!
Anyway looking forward to Sunday, be nice if we can both sat in!!
Comments
I had another deep run in the monday main til I went a threw it away with K5 trying to squeeze a button raise. I ended up 7th in that I believe.
I won the 12:30 BH two days ago and i've just gone and won it again tonight - loving this tournament at the minute.
However i'm even more pleased about tonights win because of the mannor in which I did it.
I came into the final table with 6bb - one of the shortstacks. The chip leader at the time had near enough 50bb and had the rest of us covered by a huge amount. It was clear the other two relative shortstacks were keen to ladder as they thought the tournament was a full gone conclusion... they tightened up massively, so I took full advantage by throwing my 6bb around. I doubled up when my pocket 4s held v chip leader, however lost it 2 hands later after the shortstack limped on the button. I had J4os and had no intention of squeezing as I was short and villain only had 6bb and wasnt folding. Flop came KK4 and I felt obliged to check/call any bet. He had K9.
So i went down to 5bb 6 handed and was the shortstack. I tripled up a couple of hands later shoving A4 and getting two calls. Flop of A high sealed the pot v 33. And when chip leader shoved on my bb from sb with A8 and I saw AQs I got up to around 25bb where I could throw my weight around a bit.
I bullied the table as the other players were still playing passive poker and managed to get the slight chip lead. After another guy knocked a few people out we were HU.
He was a bit tricky to play HU really. He limped every SB... never raised so it was hard to define any range at all. He got the chip lead 70/30 and bullied me a bit. However it was clear that each flop we saw he wouldnt put in a single chip unless he had hit in some manor... even in position. That made his game easier to work on and after I DU AJ v KQ all in pre I managed to squeeze out the win.
Pleased with that... one of my best wins. Not in terms of money but in terms of my all round play.
I've just gone and won the 12:30 BH for the 3rd time this week. Think thats 3/5 entries I've won it. That's a bit crazy that!
Pleased with how I played again.
Here's my favourite hand of the night for you all...
Although those that accuse me of running well at the minute can take a look at this hand which happened 3 handed on the FT.
Yuk.
But I reigned it in and pulled out the win. What a tournament eh?? If only I could play like this in every tournament. I found myself entering a tournament earlier and I was just clicking buttons! But for some reason this tournament has brought out the best in me this week. Lets hope it continues.
It sucks.
This is just one of many hands that has destroyed me tonight.
Just ran like absolute cr@p tonight.
Just wanted to say well done on a good month, long may it continue and great news on the job front.
Brilliant stuff.
Went £200 down pretty quick. One hand I tried something which was incidentally shown on the show. They commended my play... just too bad villain had probably one of the two hands which could call me.
I logged in later and had changed that -200 into +100 (which was nice). I was going to leave however on the hand I was going to leave I pick up the Q high flush draw on the flop and got it all in facing 52 (also the flush draw). He ended up hitting his pair however and I lost about 100 quid. Decided id play one more orbit and got caught on a 774 flop with A4 against AA....
So all that work to get back into profit and I threw it away within about 5 minutes. -100 for the day.
Also bricked every tournament I entered.
Sigh.
Played the main - crashed out
Played the mini - crashed out set of 10s to a guy who couldnt fold aces... which he binked the 3rd on the river.
Played the deepstack - crashed out (see above hand)
Played the £1000 speed rebuy - Ended up finishing 2nd which was nice. Lost Q10s to A4s HU all in pre as we were both pretty shallow - perhaps I could have been more patient though.
Played the £2000 rebuy - Ended up finishing 3rd. Was running quite well and looked good to get to HU. Then I tried to squeeze the small stack on a 456 flop thinking there was no way he could have part of the board. He managed to find a call with a bare 5... and that was me done.
Cash today has also been crazy. Went down £200 early doors, however found a nice table where I could squeeze value and got it all back.
So im in a bit of profit today but im sure it could have been a whole lot more if I had stayed a bit more patient in the rebuys. Dohhhhhhhh.