Tons of questions to catch up on, really glad this thread has begun pretty popular. I will attempt to answer all those questions tonight, probably between 55 and 00 every hour. No prizes for guessing what I'm grinding at the moment. Posted by TommyD
You aint answered all my questions on the opening page yet...toys ready to be thrown soon mate
On a serious note, very good start to this diary mate, best diary I have read today in fact but I only read one other on another site Cue Gramps...
Suppose its pobably been answered with your mention of the 2 x 22 DYMs but I would like to ask you, if there was a Eureka moment. As you say you ran bad played bad to get to that point. But was there a specific time when you thought, hang on, this poker game, I can do this, I can stop messing around and actually make some serious dough. Was there a point when you suddenly stopped thinking as a recreational punter and thought this could be a potential goldmine. Give hope to us small fry with big dreams if you can Dave Posted by Oopnorth
Tough to say if there was a Eureka moment. I did decide early in 2011 to really try to work on my MTT game. From casually scanning through HHs I was now breaking tons of hands down and examining tons of spots. It took months before result started to pick up but obviously it was all worth it.
A major moment was winning a Take On Tikay tournament about a month after those DYMs. I had a couple of hundred quid in my account at the time and this more than doubled it. Don't mention it to him but I actually beat the man himself heads up, no need to let him know he had a chance to really limit my crawl out of the mire.
Also I set my self a little treat target to encourage myself, as I recall I had to reach £555 and when I did I would buy into the Primo. I managed to finish 4th for a four figure score. It was at ths point I really got a hold of myself, I was very careful not to get all excited and think the hard work was over now. I was determined to never fall so low again, and determined to work harder than I ever had before. Pretty much been working hard at my game ever since.
In Response to Re: Many Rivers To Cross. A Diary. : You aint answered all my questions on the opening page yet...toys ready to be thrown soon mate On a serious note, very good start to this diary mate, best diary I have read today in fact but I only read one other on another site Cue Gramps... Posted by dylan12
WHAT? Best Diary you have read today? You are having a laugh......
In Response to Re: Many Rivers To Cross. A Diary. : Tough to say if there was a Eureka moment. I did decide early in 2011 to really try to work on my MTT game. From casually scanning through HHs I was now breaking tons of hands down and examining tons of spots. It took months before result started to pick up but obviously it was all worth it. A major moment was winning a Take On Tikay tournament about a month after those DYMs. I had a couple of hundred quid in my account at the time and this more than doubled it. Don't mention it to him but I actually beat the man himself heads up, no need to let him know he had a chance to really limit my crawl out of the mire. Also I set my self a little treat target to encourage myself, as I recall I had to reach £555 and when I did I would buy into the Primo. I managed to finish 4th for a four figure score. It was at ths point I really got a hold of myself, I was very careful not to get all excited and think the hard work was over now. I was determined to never fall so low again, and determined to work harder than I ever had before. Pretty much been working hard at my game ever since. Posted by TommyD
Is it "Bash up tikay" Day today, or summat? I let you win, obv, Customer Care at it's very best.
In Response to Re: Many Rivers To Cross. A Diary. : Is it "Bash up tikay" Day today, or summat? I let you win, obv, Customer Care at it's very best. Posted by Tikay10
Well for balance let me tell you this. You are the hardest person I have ever played HU at the end of a MTT. This includes big ones I've won and big ones I've lost. I'd never seen anything like it, mild mannered grinder all the way through a MTT and as soon as the third place person goes it's time for Wildman Tikay!! Shove, reshove, limp/shove, raise, re raise, back raise, back back 4bet re jam. I didn't know what had hit me.
Finally, been waiting for this...Only need Jakally to start a diary now and I will be happy. Couple of questions... What brought you into the Poker world? Was it due to your mathamatical mind? What got you into to teaching?Who is your life time hero? Sky poker hero? World wide poker player hero? I have loads more questions but that will do for now. Posted by dylan12
Ok Dyl these are the ones I haven't answered yet.
I kind of fell into teaching. I've done a few things in my life without ever find that vocation that a lot of people have. My friends and family always said I had the right temperament for teaching so I went for it.
All time life hero is probably my mother. She is literally incapable of malice and has a huge capacity for love. I got very lucky with my family.
Outside of my family I was always a huge Paul Newman fan. Probably my favourite actor of all time and he did a fair amount for charity, even if it was through salad dressing.
Too many heroes on Skypoker for me to say one, I can count on the fingers of one hand the people here I even dislike. Did you like that swerve?
In Response to Re: Many Rivers To Cross. A Diary. : Is it "Bash up tikay" Day today, or summat? I let you win, obv, Customer Care at it's very best. Posted by Tikay10
Well, I have not spoken to you in an age so just a gentle ribbing in case you forget about me
One of the draws to next door was your diary and the diaries that have begun since so it is nice to see a variety of them beginning here and hope it will be a draw in getting some of the old posters back again so hats off to you all.
In Response to Re: Many Rivers To Cross. A Diary. : Ok Dyl these are the ones I haven't answered yet. I kind of fell into teaching. I've done a few things in my life without ever find that vocation that a lot of people have. My friends and family always said I had the right temperament for teaching so I went for it. All time life hero is probably my mother. She is literally incapable of malice and has a huge capacity for love. I got very lucky with my family. Outside of my family I was always a huge Paul Newman fan. Probably my favourite actor of all time and he did a fair amount for charity, even if it was through salad dressing. To many heroes on Skypoker for me to say one, I can count on the fingers of one hand the people here I even dislike. Did you like that swerve? Posted by TommyD
VWP Sir, nh
Nice answer with regards to your mother, sometimes we take family and friends for granted so it's nice to hear you say that she is your Hero
Edit: Just remembered, you said that your mother had began to read this diary...nice way to earn brownie points, very shrewd hehe (for clarity I am joking ofc)
In Response to Re: Many Rivers To Cross. A Diary. : Well, I have not spoken to you in an age so just a gentle ribbing in case you forget about me One of the draws to next door was your diary and the diaries that have begun since so it is nice to see a variety of them beginning here and hope it will be a draw in getting some of the old posters back again so hats off to you all. Posted by dylan12
That is my hope, Dyl, we needed to freshen this place up imo.
In Response to Re: Many Rivers To Cross. A Diary. : Well for balance let me tell you this. You are the hardest person I have ever played HU at the end of a MTT. This includes big ones I've won and big ones I've lost. I'd never seen anything like it, mild mannered grinder all the way through a MTT and as soon as the third place person goes it's time for Wildman Tikay!! Shove, reshove, limp/shove, raise, re raise, back raise, back back 4bet re jam. I didn't know what had hit me. Posted by TommyD
Well as you say, that is called "balance".
The way you write it, peeps would thnk I won it......
I have a theory when heads up, & my oppo is clearly better than me - be brutally aggro. They can't outplay me if I jam the lot in pre!
When you play the Rollers, do you try to sat in first? if you do and fail are you always buying in anyway? or will have another couple of attempts?
My next question maybe a bit personal, well reveal a bit much so you can either decline to answer/ PM me or even put on here your call:
What advice would you give for satelites? this is really my big problem at the mo, i do think its a case of run bad but im sure im getting in spots i shouldnt. Any help from urs truly would be grand.
Also as there has been alot of changes of late and more to come, what IYO do you think is either the biggest change? or you think should be priority to be next.
Great thread Tommy, really enjoying it. Couple of questions for you:
As a teacher and someone who enjoys all variations of poker, how hard do you think it is for the average person to pick up the other formats? I think I pick most things up quite quickly but forms of poker other than hold'em may as well be chinese to me. Would you offer any particular advice to players like me who have hold'em entrenched in their brains to the exclusion of all other formats?
You must get this one all the time (sorry) but do you not fancy yourself as a pro? I know what you said above about that 'ruthless' cutting edge that is required but do you not think you could shake that and/or any other obstacles? Would you rule out ever going pro? (Don't answer last bit if you don't wish to :-))
What games do you play on the other site? I'm particularly interested in the huge field MTTs, have you any other stories you would particularly like to share about any of those?
That will do for now, thanks for taking the time mate.
Hey Tommy, Nice diary so far not a poster more a lurker. I notice when you have a decent tourny score you go play cash 1/2 + but eventually revert back to playing the odd DYM and more MTTs, is this because you take money out at some point for personal stuff and drop to a comfortible level or the other obvious reason which i won't say . Also i think i read you have a son ? if not my mistake but is that the reason you don't play many live MTTs. As an all round STT reg for the last 4 years now your one of the very few people i don't like on my table / avoid if totally possible so why not just stick to them and grind a lower variance profit over X space of time? ^^ last post about not wanting to take money off someone you know i can relate to alot. Im quite sure thats why i play STTs and not cash as i know alot of the cash regs on this site and just think meh i don't want to take money off X or lose it to Y. Do you have any problems logging and calling it a night when your down ? I still can't leave when i'm down over a certain amount unless i can't get a game hence me being on this late ha ha . Would you say you was a competative person in the sense that you hate losing at anything from poker to just random stuff as i hate losing at anything it drives me alot and especially at this game over the years. long post should keep you busy ! Posted by Nutter5932
Haha, gladly not the obvious reason for switching to DYMs after cash. I'm ahead at 1/2 over the last year/18 months. Not crushing it but beating it. I'm behind at 1.5/3 but not by a great deal. I'm ahead at 5/10 (ok it was like 20 hands before he stood but darn it, it still counts). And I've always had a good record at 0.50/1 which is problem the level I am the most profitable at right now. I've had my fair share of spankings on the cash table for sure, but I'm not donating my MTT wins there.
In general after I have a MTT bink I do like to have a little fun on the higher stake cash, that lasts for a couple of weeks before I get sensible and take some out for my savings/holiday/fun stuff.
I don't have a son or any children. I don't play any decent level live MTTs purely down to work, teaching is not a job where you can choose your holidays. Ok yes there are a few of them for sure, but I can't take a Thursday or Friday off to play the day 1s at most events. However one of my goals for the year was to get more live play, I'm going to try to find some holiday/weekend friendly events this year to see how I'd do in a live MTT that takes more time than a Monday evening at Harlow Dog Stadium (now that's a fun poker room, stories will follow some day).
Believe me if there was a bigger DYM player pool you wouldn't see me at your table, you're too darn good. I used to grind DYMs a lot for points and for building up my roll. I don't play as much now but I still get back on there from time to time, mainly when I'm suffering from Fancy Play Syndrome. Nothing better than a DYM to go back to pure math basics, which is by no means insulting the DYMs as they are anything but basic. It's a nice way to wash out all the rubbish that creeps into my game from time to time, plus I enjoy them when I'm in the mood. I just wish the £100+ ones would run more.
I used to have massive problems calling it a night. I had a little period way back to the Betfair days where I was grinding £5 SnGs and I refused to quit until I was at least £50 up on the day. I think it was the second time i woke up at the keyboard when I decided that was a bad idea. These days I'm a lot more chilled about it, I tend to know when I'm going a little haywire and can log off. The problems these day happen when I find a good cash game, I'm sat with a player or two who I think will pay me off handsomely in the right spot but that spot is just not turning up. Doesn't matter if I'm up or down but what does matter is I'm not getting AK on a A high flop for him to crash into with A6 or that set won't bink or the worst of all, they open fold the SB for the first time in 100 times when I'm sat in the BB with QQ+. That last one is tilt-tastic.
I'm competitive with myself. If I get done by a better player on the poker table or by a better team on the Sunday League Pitch, fair enough. If I've under performed I can get into a foul mood with myself. That's really where my competitive drive comes from and as a result I am quite competitive.
Question for you Ben. Do you find as one of the best known players on the DYM table that you get called in those crucial bubble spots wider than say a lesser known player?
Well I think I covered all of your questions there Ben, if I missed something give me a nudge. Great to have you lurking here
Do any of you actually think we have a chance in the Euro's. Are we just going to get all the usual pre tourny hype and optimism only for England to fail again! Lets be honest here, we just ain't good enough, let's prepare ourselves for the worst. Posted by rancid
We've got a chance but I'd much rather use the Euros as a springboard for the World Cup, get a young team at the Euros to bond and aim to make their mark in 2014.
Right, i contributed to taking this thread to become an england team thread , but lets get back to poker. Just wondering on average what percentage of your play would be , tourne , cash, DYM. Also do you ever play HU sit n go's , or any HU cash ? Posted by 1267
I would guess this month I've been 10% DYMs, 20% MTTs, 50% NLHE Cash and 20% PLO cash. These are subject to change as and when the whim takes me. I play all the formats and as many of the games as I can because I want to be the best I can be at every format. You never know where the next juicy game will be or what format it will be. I think to survive in poker long term you need to know much more than NLHE, mainly because you never know where the game will go, just ask any Stud players from the 70s/80s.
I play the odd HU SnG, not too bad at those. I'm decent at HU PLO cash against the right people (the right people do not have a Coxy or a Sim in their name). I rarely play NLHE HU Cash, it's probably my weakest area in poker. At least it was when I tried it out a couple of years ago on another site It's on the list to improve though, but judging by my previous results I'm going to wait until I can fund half a site trying to fix it.
What's the meaning of life Tommy? Why are we here?
But more importantly, how could lolufold go all-in pre (5 bet I think) playing nl500 against Peg1, three handed, with 3d6d. And how do you quantify him cracking Peg's AA with a flopped flush and even avoiding Peg's re-draw? Variance? Peg left with about £2.5K profit so I guess I've already answered my own question. Not sure what the meaning of life is though. Or even why I'm asking. Strange life.
Ok I will get to the outstanding questions soon (Bandini, you made me chuckle, thank you) but we haven't had a HH in here for a while. Going to try something and see if it takes off. I'm going to post parts of two HHs, one will be my biggest win in the last day, the other will be the biggest loss. Rate my play on both and guess which is which. I'm going to leave the names in on these, hopefully no one will be offended. If anyone is feel free to PM me or post here and I will refrain from doing so in the future.
Comments
Top Tip for aspiring Diary authors.
Mention football, make a contentious team selection, then sit back & await an absolute avalanche of replies.
Job's a good 'un.
A major moment was winning a Take On Tikay tournament about a month after those DYMs. I had a couple of hundred quid in my account at the time and this more than doubled it. Don't mention it to him but I actually beat the man himself heads up, no need to let him know he had a chance to really limit my crawl out of the mire.
Also I set my self a little treat target to encourage myself, as I recall I had to reach £555 and when I did I would buy into the Primo. I managed to finish 4th for a four figure score. It was at ths point I really got a hold of myself, I was very careful not to get all excited and think the hard work was over now. I was determined to never fall so low again, and determined to work harder than I ever had before. Pretty much been working hard at my game ever since.
I kind of fell into teaching. I've done a few things in my life without ever find that vocation that a lot of people have. My friends and family always said I had the right temperament for teaching so I went for it.
All time life hero is probably my mother. She is literally incapable of malice and has a huge capacity for love. I got very lucky with my family.
Outside of my family I was always a huge Paul Newman fan. Probably my favourite actor of all time and he did a fair amount for charity, even if it was through salad dressing.
Too many heroes on Skypoker for me to say one, I can count on the fingers of one hand the people here I even dislike. Did you like that swerve?
Time will tell.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
The way you write it, peeps would thnk I won it......
I have a theory when heads up, & my oppo is clearly better than me - be brutally aggro. They can't outplay me if I jam the lot in pre!
As a teacher and someone who enjoys all variations of poker, how hard do you think it is for the average person to pick up the other formats? I think I pick most things up quite quickly but forms of poker other than hold'em may as well be chinese to me. Would you offer any particular advice to players like me who have hold'em entrenched in their brains to the exclusion of all other formats?
You must get this one all the time (sorry) but do you not fancy yourself as a pro? I know what you said above about that 'ruthless' cutting edge that is required but do you not think you could shake that and/or any other obstacles? Would you rule out ever going pro? (Don't answer last bit if you don't wish to :-))
What games do you play on the other site? I'm particularly interested in the huge field MTTs, have you any other stories you would particularly like to share about any of those?
That will do for now, thanks for taking the time mate.
In general after I have a MTT bink I do like to have a little fun on the higher stake cash, that lasts for a couple of weeks before I get sensible and take some out for my savings/holiday/fun stuff.
I don't have a son or any children. I don't play any decent level live MTTs purely down to work, teaching is not a job where you can choose your holidays. Ok yes there are a few of them for sure, but I can't take a Thursday or Friday off to play the day 1s at most events. However one of my goals for the year was to get more live play, I'm going to try to find some holiday/weekend friendly events this year to see how I'd do in a live MTT that takes more time than a Monday evening at Harlow Dog Stadium (now that's a fun poker room, stories will follow some day).
Believe me if there was a bigger DYM player pool you wouldn't see me at your table, you're too darn good. I used to grind DYMs a lot for points and for building up my roll. I don't play as much now but I still get back on there from time to time, mainly when I'm suffering from Fancy Play Syndrome. Nothing better than a DYM to go back to pure math basics, which is by no means insulting the DYMs as they are anything but basic. It's a nice way to wash out all the rubbish that creeps into my game from time to time, plus I enjoy them when I'm in the mood. I just wish the £100+ ones would run more.
I used to have massive problems calling it a night. I had a little period way back to the Betfair days where I was grinding £5 SnGs and I refused to quit until I was at least £50 up on the day. I think it was the second time i woke up at the keyboard when I decided that was a bad idea. These days I'm a lot more chilled about it, I tend to know when I'm going a little haywire and can log off. The problems these day happen when I find a good cash game, I'm sat with a player or two who I think will pay me off handsomely in the right spot but that spot is just not turning up. Doesn't matter if I'm up or down but what does matter is I'm not getting AK on a A high flop for him to crash into with A6 or that set won't bink or the worst of all, they open fold the SB for the first time in 100 times when I'm sat in the BB with QQ+. That last one is tilt-tastic.
I'm competitive with myself. If I get done by a better player on the poker table or by a better team on the Sunday League Pitch, fair enough. If I've under performed I can get into a foul mood with myself. That's really where my competitive drive comes from and as a result I am quite competitive.
Question for you Ben. Do you find as one of the best known players on the DYM table that you get called in those crucial bubble spots wider than say a lesser known player?
Well I think I covered all of your questions there Ben, if I missed something give me a nudge. Great to have you lurking here
I play the odd HU SnG, not too bad at those. I'm decent at HU PLO cash against the right people (the right people do not have a Coxy or a Sim in their name). I rarely play NLHE HU Cash, it's probably my weakest area in poker. At least it was when I tried it out a couple of years ago on another site It's on the list to improve though, but judging by my previous results I'm going to wait until I can fund half a site trying to fix it.
But more importantly, how could lolufold go all-in pre (5 bet I think) playing nl500 against Peg1, three handed, with 3d6d. And how do you quantify him cracking Peg's AA with a flopped flush and even avoiding Peg's re-draw? Variance? Peg left with about £2.5K profit so I guess I've already answered my own question. Not sure what the meaning of life is though. Or even why I'm asking. Strange life.
Geordie Shore's pretty good though, eh?
Is a min-raise on the river ever, ever, ever a bluff?
You strike me as too good a guy to ignore any. I might well take advantage.
So, to the hands.
Hand 1