Hi Craig I've been following this diary since the start, Congrats on your progress. i have set my goal this month for 3000 reard pts but am struggling to keep to my schedule have fallen away a bit. Can i ask you how many tables of 5 / 10 you are playing and how many hrs a day are you playing so you reach this goal.
Hi Craig I've been following this diary since the start, Congrats on your progress. i have set my goal this month for 3000 reard pts but am struggling to keep to my schedule have fallen away a bit. Can i ask you how many tables of 5 / 10 you are playing and how many hrs a day are you playing so you reach this goal. Posted by spinky6108
Thanks for your words Jim and Larson, much appreciated. I dont think I can get much more than 3000 points with my volume but as I improve I will up my goals.
Spinky, again. Thanks. Every contribution is much appreciated and always leaves a smile. As for your question, I play four tables usually, maybe adding a fifth every once in a while but four is optimal for me as I can keep up with my hands AND just as important, watching how others are playing - noticing what hands are being shown down and even going onto histories and watching how the streets where played. When playing more this becomes harder and you end up playing robotically and missing spots where you are bluffed or can bluff/thin value bet.
As for time I play as much as I can but only as long as I feel that I can play my best. Sometimes I found trying to squeeze in a thirty min session can end up being costly as your trying to play more hands due to time constraints.
My advice to you (and is what i'm going to do)is dont get fixated on your points tally. Just concentrate on playing the same tables you always do and play for as long as you can play well. If I get tired or find im tilting/playing bad I will try and end the session (easily said than done but you have to try). Then re-evaluate a week or so until the end of the month and see if you are either on target or you need to fit an extra session or two. That way you can plan ahead and not feel like you have to play. If you cant do it then just try again the next month. The key to all this is not losing money trying to gain a goal. No point spending £50 trying to get to a £45 target!
In Response to Re: HOLIDAY CHALLENGE £127.. TO (£1000 THE GOAL) CURRENT BR £798.10 : Thanks for your words Jim and Larson, much appreciated. I dont think I can get much more than 3000 points with my volume but as I improve I will up my goals. Spinky, again. Thanks. Every contribution is much appreciated and always leaves a smile. As for your question, I play four tables usually, maybe adding a fifth every once in a while but four is optimal for me as I can keep up with my hands AND just as important, watching how others are playing - noticing what hands are being shown down and even going onto histories and watching how the streets where played. When playing more this becomes harder and you end up playing robotically and missing spots where you are bluffed or can bluff/thin value bet. As for time I play as much as I can but only as long as I feel that I can play my best. Sometimes I found trying to squeeze in a thirty min session can end up being costly as your trying to play more hands due to time constraints. My advice to you (and is what i'm going to do)is dont get fixated on your points tally. Just concentrate on playing the same tables you always do and play for as long as you can play well. If I get tired or find im tilting/playing bad I will try and end the session (easily said than done but you have to try). Then re-evaluate a week or so until the end of the month and see if you are either on target or you need to fit an extra session or two. That way you can plan ahead and not feel like you have to play. If you cant do it then just try again the next month. The key to all this is not losing money trying to gain a goal. No point spending £50 trying to get to a £45 target! Good luck! Keep me informed please. Posted by CraigSG1
Hi Craig
I also play 4 tables most of the time i don,t think it will be posible for me to reach 3000 pts at my level and the volume i am putting in i am currantly on 585 pts after 8 days which is 215 pts below my target of 100 a day. So i am going to take your advice and just see how it goes for the next week then re asess at the end of week 2.
I am also dissapointed that despite putting in more volume than ever before i am not on the Bronze leaderboard.
In Response to Re: HOLIDAY CHALLENGE £127.. TO (£1000 THE GOAL) CURRENT BR £798.10 : Hi Craig I also play 4 tables most of the time i don,t think it will be posible for me to reach 3000 pts at my level and the volume i am putting in i am currantly on 585 pts after 8 days which is 215 pts below my target of 100 a day. So i am going to take your advice and just see how it goes for the next week then re asess at the end of week 2. I am also dissapointed that despite putting in more volume than ever before i am not on the Bronze leaderboard. Posted by spinky6108
Dont give up just yet - next week (tue - firiday) is double points so a great oppertunity to get a great points boost. As for the leaderboard I think it pays upto 150 places but they only show top 100 so, again, dont give up. Good luck.
So, my monthly cash grind continues. I have set myself goals based by the month, and this month I was going to concentrate on cash for a few reasons. 1/ To reach 3000 PP for the first time 2/ To compete in the leaderboard promo and 3/ To improve as a cash player.
So far I am very pleased with my progress. 1/ I am well on course, currently on 1900 exactly with a whole 15 days left. 2/ I am garenteed £10, I could probably have snuck £25 but that would have took a bigger effort during the 4 day double points that I just couldn't do. A couple fo nights I started getting tired and did the right thing and quit while I was still playing well and 3/ I definatly think I have got a lot better in just these two weeks alone. I am slowly getting more aggressive in better spots and not calling off when I know I probably behind even if I have a strong hand (although as luck would have it I folded KK pre and was correct only to see a K high flop when 1010 v AA got it in. 1010 hit a set too! Frustrating, but good to see my read was correct).
I've pretty much played well and have made a good profit, even though I have run -£120 ev on my sessions.
Tournament wise, I have only played a £2BH each night I have played on the side, more as a bit of fun. I've again played well but not had the run. I did make a FT tonight but went out in horrible fashion. After coming in 6/6 I got a nice double with JJ v AQ and that took me to 4/6. A few hands later im in the BB with 65s and with two limpers we go to a flop. I flop great with a flopped flush AND an up and down str FD. First player goes allin, I go allin, next player goes allin!! So for a huge, huge chip lead dominating pot im miles ahead against JJ and two pair (85o). Just as I start thinking all I have to do is dodge an 8 or 5, a 5 hits the turn and a blank river!
Gutted!! I'm more than certain with a 4 - 1 chip lead on the remaining players I would have 2nd locked up and a good bet for first. Instead, Im out in joint 4th! Sigh!
Anyway, barriing any other cash related promo I may have a slight chance at next month's targets will be tournament based. I am not far off my target now and with a £45+ bonus almost locked up and probably £20 from this current promo all I need is a little bit more and I could even finsih this in a few weeks. No pressure, if I suffer a hit then thats life. I still have a few months to go!
Exciting times ahead! I am tantalising close to my target after a really good two days. Sunday went really well, finishing 5 buyins up. Another two buyin session today and a 4th in a £2BH has propelled me to within £60.88 of my goal.
After a plateau of late for a month earlier, I re-evaluated how I was approaching my poker. This has done wonders as I again have the freedom and belief to go forward. The two or so weeks has since seen another surge in my BR and more importantly enjoyment.
I have more faith in my game now that I am just concentrating on playing my way and not worrying if I finish down or up as long as I'm playing well. Obviously if I was consistently losing I would be worried but I know that I am a winning player at this level and will have more ups than down!
Things have gone OK recently, had a lot of small ups and one big down (last night) and a couple of BH final tables (was really unlucky to finish 2nd in one after being ahead twice in allins - once AK v my KK and my K high against his Q high with me ahead in chips) and that has took my BR up to £975.70. If it was not down to 7/8 horrendoues 2/3 outers on the river when I had the money in on the turn I would probably have smashed my challange by about £50-70 by now. Really cruel.
But, I'm almost there and could actually not play until my PP are awarded as I have over £26 in PP's to come! So, technically I'm already there!
So amazed to have made £300 so far in 23 days just by playing 95% cash at 10nl. And I have to confess I have not run as well as I could have. Thats poker I know, but I wonder what a month of running well would be like?
So, at any moment and in any pot I could bink my challange but just as easily could falter away from it. But i'm clear in my head again and know its now just a matter of days and if I do dip I know I will go on.
Days 114 - 120 Things have gone OK recently, had a lot of small ups and one big down (last night) and a couple of BH final tables (was really unlucky to finish 2nd in one after being ahead twice in allins - once AK v my KK and my K high against his Q high with me ahead in chips) and that has took my BR up to £975.70. If it was not down to 7/8 horrendoues 2/3 outers on the river when I had the money in on the turn I would probably have smashed my challange by about £50-70 by now. Really cruel. But, I'm almost there and could actually not play until my PP are awarded as I have over £26 in PP's to come! So, technically I'm already there! So amazed to have made £300 so far in 23 days just by playing 95% cash at 10nl. And I have to confess I have not run as well as I could have. Thats poker I know, but I wonder what a month of running well would be like? So, at any moment and in any pot I could bink my challange but just as easily could falter away from it. But i'm clear in my head again and know its now just a matter of days and if I do dip I know I will go on. BR £975.70 Posted by CraigSG1
Thanks Spinky and Larson. If thats my results while you are away then please, stay away!!
Well, im over the moon to report I have reached my goal!! I am amazed at how much my BR increased over the last three weeks. I have this challenge to thank as when I started this my cash game was well below what it is now. Its still got a long, long way to go but there is no way I would have been able to compete at 10nl day in, day out like I do now and make decent profit. My hand AND opponent reading is better as long as my discipline and getting value out of hands.
Also, setting goals within goals has also helped as it helped break down my target and stop me focusing purely on finishing up in each session, but rather concentrate on playing well and letting results take care of them selves.
Im well on target to break the 3000 PP barrier. I currently have the most I've ever accumulated and also will easily finish in the £10 bracket of this months promotion.
This month I have just concentrated on cash, next month (promotion dependant - if there is another good cash promotion I can do well in things will change) I am going to primarily focus on MTT's with my bigger than usual buyins. Ive not got anything specific in mind other than to just play well.
As for other challanges, I would be willing to keep this going but obviously only if there is interest. Would not want to bore you all. Thanks for reading and your encouragement.
Really nice that ive inspired someone. Its really nice to make almost £900 in four months just from small stakes poker. I played mainly 10nl (with some 20nl but not much) and no MTT's over £5 to get there so it can be done.
Next stage is to gradually play higher and higher limits but ive proven to myself that if I take it slow I can do it.
Looking back through my diary its amazing what ups and downs I had and how ive improved immensly in accepting losses. I used to feel bad about losing £10+ at 4nl but now if I finish 3/4 buyins down at 10nl I just shrug it off as I have proved I can beat it and have the profit to prove it.
For example tonight, I got off to a horrible start. Firstly running KK into AA against the table fish who was in every pot. Then when my set of 6's on the flop lost a £40 pot to AA that retook the lead after money went in. Add to that AK losing with top two to a rivered flush. So almost £40 straight away. Earlier I would have tilt chased, either playing more pots or moving up levels. I now just have a little moan and groan to get it out and then quickly move on. I actually manged to finsh about £4 up which is brilliant and goes to prove I have come a long way.
As I have said, I still have a lot to learn and will do for as long as I play. Its been a tremendous learning curve to have this diary and I encourage anyone wanting to improve any aspect to go for it. Being honest really helps and writing it down helps to organise it in your own mind.
As for my holiday, I wanted to book a flight to Vegas and put all my winnings on red. But my GF did not agree at all. She said we should put it all on black! So after arguing for a few hours we finally settled on a trip to Rhodes (Greece) in May for a week over my birthday. Been twice before and I love the place! Can not wait!!!
"Looking back through my diary its amazing what ups and downs I had and how ive improved immensly in accepting losses. I used to feel bad about losing £10+ at 4nl but now if I finish 3/4 buyins down at 10nl I just shrug it off as I have proved I can beat it and have the profit to prove it.
For example tonight, I got off to a horrible start. Firstly running KK into AA against the table fish who was in every pot. Then when my set of 6's on the flop lost a £40 pot to AA that retook the lead after money went in. Add to that AK losing with top two to a rivered flush. So almost £40 straight away. Earlier I would have tilt chased, either playing more pots or moving up levels. I now just have a little moan and groan to get it out and then quickly move on. I actually manged to finsh about £4 up which is brilliant and goes to prove I have come a long way."
Comments
Poker will always have it's ups and downs, the times we just can't miss and times when we hit everything.
It's hard dealing with the downswings. You are doing really well and will be at 1k in no time at all.
Also 100% we should be enjoying it. I was the same, just playing to make x amount of money and losing site of why i started playing in the 1st place.
Good luck and run good!
Have you been cleaning up, while i've not been playing cash?:)
Good going, what's the next challenge?
Boom! Very well played, congratulations. Enjoy that holiday
brilliant attitude to the game.