Fun Hand

Seat 1: Knightsridge ($193.50 in chips)
Seat 2: x_ROSH125_x ($100.50 in chips)
Seat 4: XXXXXXX ($159.60 in chips)
Seat 5: ??Steve??962 ($75.60 in chips)
Seat 6: 3J55 ($100 in chips)
Seat 7: Chiren80 ($100 in chips)
Seat 8: BE-Tiger ($100 in chips)
x_ROSH125_x: posts small blind $0.50
pocelucikov: is sitting out
XXXXXXX: posts big blind $1
JuantotheC: sits out
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to Knightsridge [9s 8s]

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pocelucikov has returned
??Steve??962: folds
3J55: folds
Chiren80: folds
BE-Tiger: folds
Knightsridge: raises $2 to $3
pocelucikov leaves the table
x_ROSH125_x: folds
XXXXXXX: raises $8 to $11

Knightsridge: calls $8

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*** FLOP *** [Jc 2s 5c]
XXXXXXX: bets $12.50

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Knightsridge: calls $12.50
*** TURN *** [Jc 2s 5c] [Ts]
XXXXXXX: bets $25

Knightsridge: calls $25
*** RIVER *** [Jc 2s 5c Ts] [6s]

XXXXXXX: bets $111.10 and is all-in

Knightsridge: calls $111.10
*** SHOW DOWN ***
XXXXXXX: shows [Ah Kd] (high card Ace)
Knightsridge: shows [9s 8s] (a flush, Ten high)
Knightsridge collected $316.70 from pot


XXXXXXX said, "lol run better plz"
XXXXXXX said, "yeah chasing backdoors lol in 3 bet pts"
XXXXXXX said, "gj'"
XXXXXXX said, "ez life"
XXXXXXX said, "running like god"

It's a Start

Mainly (90%) $100 heads up PLO, with some $50 and a couple hands of a $200 table as well.

Good to put two winning days in a row. Been a while since I have had that.

I think I played for a little too long at the end of yesterday. That is the long break-even stretch in the graph. I think 1.5 hours is the most I can do just now playing just heads up. Although I think that will increase soon.

Hopefully this continues.

Resurgance

Where do I begin?

Well, June was my best ever month playing online poker. I made just over 12K and considering it was mainly 200NL and 400NL, I was quite pleased.

After June, and spending 9 days in Vegas during the WSOP with my wife in early July, I was feeling great about my poker future. I was committed to taking a year off from teaching in August 2010 to play poker full time; conditional on having £30,000 to put into an account for my wife and I. Kind of like getting paid for a years work in advance. Things were good. Puppies were barking, ice cream was flowing, and butterflies danced around my computer.

Then came July, and it brought my first losing month ever since I started this blog. Down 4K.

Then came August and my 2nd losing month ever. Down 3K.

And now in the twilight of September I am down another 2K and about to make it a hat trick of losing months.

It is quite a confidence crusher.

I would like to say it is variance, cold decks, blah blah blah, but at some point I have to accept that my game has not been good enough recently to consistently put up big numbers. And more importantly, my mindset.

I also think that I should start blogging again. Knowing I am going to report on my progress everyday might shake things up and promote better play. I certainly hope so.

I am also going to step back from holdem for a little while and concentrate on PLO. Mainly headsup and some 6max at the 50, 100, and 200 tables.

I am aiming for $200-$250 every session, something that I am definitely capable of and have done numerous times before. I want to start small and set realistic goals.

If I could make 4-5K a month until Christmas, I would be very pleased and would be able to focus on my goal of having a 60K bankroll come the end of June. This would allow me to put money aside, and also have 10K or so to build on. I currently have a $13.5K bankroll but with fpps and milestone bonuses in the next 2-3 months, it is about $20K.

Updates defnitely to follow.

Heres to hoping.

Table Selection is Key

So key in my opinion

Love It

April

Long time no post

So April was very abbreviated as my parents came over to visit for 10 days. Had a great time and I think they did as well. We went to Edinburgh, Dublin, and Donegal, the latter two with my wife's parents. It was a good time.

Needless to say poker suffered, but that was ok with me.

I had a so so month after the dust cleared. I started on fire, up 5K in the first week, but then with the layoff, the 3rd week of April went sour. I had two of my worst nights going -1300 and -2300 on a Friday/Saturday. Just running poor. Nothing really to say other than thats poker.

That week also marked the last week of me getting staked. My staker emailed saying he had a terrible week personally along with most of his stakees. I felt bad for him as he is a nice guy and he went out of his way to give other players a chance to move up in stakes, but c'est la vie I suppose.

So the last 10 days or so have been me playing on my own dime for the first time in 6 months. It felt weird at first as I was back playing 200NL again, but after the first session it was all good. I made about $2K on my own the last 10 days which with only 3 sessions I was pleased with. (I felt terrible the last few days so no poker). Anyways, I made about 5.5K for the month + fpps. Obviously not amazing, but hell, I'll take it considering it is more than double my day job.

Anyways, played a fun hand tonight. 1K and a bit for the session.

***** Hand History for Game 27667463166 *****
$200.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Thursday, April 30, 08:04:57 ET 2009
Table Polyxenos IV (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Seat 1: 3jaydub ( $329.70 USD )
Seat 2: johnmx ( $113.05 USD )
Seat 3: VING444 ( $191.50 USD )
Seat 4: TomasQ ( $200.00 USD )
Seat 5: Knightsridge ( $265.70 USD )
Seat 6: KINGDING114 ( $247.30 USD )
Seat 7: dng_ps ( $200.00 USD )
Seat 8: Iberico ( $327.85 USD )
Seat 9: wazawskiHH ( $222.85 USD )
VING444 posts small blind [$1.00 USD].
TomasQ posts big blind [$2.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Knightsridge [ Th Ts ]
Knightsridge raises [$5.00 USD]
KINGDING114 folds
dng_ps raises [$14.00 USD]
Iberico folds
wazawskiHH folds
3jaydub folds
johnmx folds
VING444 calls [$13.00 USD]
TomasQ folds
Knightsridge calls [$9.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Td, Tc, Jc ]
VING444 bets [$10.00 USD]
Knightsridge calls [$10.00 USD]
dng_ps calls [$10.00 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 4s ]
VING444 bets [$22.00 USD]
Knightsridge calls [$22.00 USD]
dng_ps raises [$60.00 USD]
VING444 calls [$38.00 USD]
Knightsridge calls [$38.00 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 8s ]
VING444 checks
Knightsridge bets [$181.70 USD]
dng_ps calls [$116.00 USD]
VING444 folds
Knightsridge shows [Th, Ts ]
Knightsridge wins $483.00 USD from main pot
dng_ps doesn't show [Js, Jh ]
Knightsridge wins $65.70 USD from main pot


hahahaha pokers

Pond Hockey

Every now and then I get reminded of why I loved growing up in Canada so much.

March

Started out quite average. Mainly 200NL for the first 35K hands or so. Then the last 15K is mainly 400NL.

Plus about $1200 in fpps and about $500 in omalol.

Long Time No Post

Biggest hand I have ever won.

***** Hand History for Game 26355761515 *****
$400.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, March 25, 09:01:04 ET 2009
Table Thora X (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Seat 2: Moneyball16 ( $547.65 USD )
Seat 3: IAmSnow ( $400.00 USD )
Seat 4: mdypf ( $379.60 USD )
Seat 6: krischnumani ( $821.00 USD )
Seat 7: Knightsridge ( $571.80 USD )
Seat 8: kemikar ( $416.00 USD )
Seat 9: slammedfire ( $400.00 USD )
IAmSnow posts small blind [$2.00 USD].
mdypf posts big blind [$4.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Knightsridge [ Jd Kd ]
krischnumani raises [$16.00 USD]
Knightsridge calls [$16.00 USD]
kemikar folds
slammedfire folds
Moneyball16 folds
IAmSnow folds
mdypf calls [$12.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 5d, 9d, 6d ]
mdypf checks
krischnumani bets [$40.00 USD]
Knightsridge raises [$140.00 USD]
mdypf folds
krischnumani raises [$765.00 USD]
Knightsridge calls [$415.80 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 3s ]
** Dealing River ** [ As ]
krischnumani shows [6c, 6h ]
Knightsridge shows [Jd, Kd ]
Knightsridge wins $1158.60 USD from main pot

Funny 2+2 post

This was posted by Deanglow in the med-high stakes Pokerstars Regs Thread. I thought it was pretty funny.

Poker Stars $3/$6 No Limit Hold'em - 9 players - View hand 17699
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (MP1): $1498.00
Marccus85 (MP2): $597.00
Redstone4 (CO): $406.00
GoMukYaSelf (BTN): $795.00
KiWiKaKi (SB): $814.35
NYCskibum (BB): $360.00
gyr1 (UTG): $347.75
idoubleL (UTG+1): $1370.65
mape6693 (UTG+2): $582.35

Pre Flop: ($9.00) Hero is MP1 with A A

3 folds, Hero raises to $18, 2 folds, GoMukYaSelf raises to $66, 2 folds, Hero raises to $174, GoMukYaSelf calls $108

Flop: ($357.00) J 9 K (2 players)


Hero bets $144, GoMukYaSelf calls $144

Turn: ($645.00) T (2 players)

Hero checks, GoMukYaSelf checks

River: ($645.00) Q (2 players)


Hero bets $1180 all in, GoMukYaSelf says "lmao i am the worst", GoMukYaSelf says "wtf", GoMukYaSelf says "aces?", GoMukYaSelf folds, GoMukYaSelf says "i got kings"

Final Pot: $645.00
Hero mucks A A
Hero wins $642.00
(Rake: $3.00)

400NL

So I moved up to 400NL this week. I asked the guy staking me if it was cool, and he gave me the green light. It honestly plays similar to 200NL although the regs are better and because of the smaller number of tables they are more frequently playing with me. However, for the most part, there are still some donks willing to donate. This graph is my first three sessions when I am playing no more than 12 tables until I become more comfortable.

It's Snowing!

Being from Canada I dont get to see snow a whole lot in Scotland, but the last few days it has been on and off, with Southern England getting it even worse.

I love this clip from a great movie, Hook. My dad took me and my little bros to see it when I was in 6th grade. Fantastic movie.

Team Event Recap

I was told by our fearless leader Cambo, to be at the Alea by about 7. I get there about 6:50 and walked into the Alea in Glasgow for the first time. I had no idea where to go, so I ended up walking upstairs. After a stroll around looking for the poker room, a dealer told me it was downstairs. Off to a good start. I find the tables and see some players on our team, Cambo and Fergus, chatting. Soon after Dale and Ludo join us and we talked about the best ways to approach the night and how finishing in minus points would be absolutely terrible for advancing. (The tournament had 10 opening tables each one an sng. The winner of the table received 15 points for his team followed by 2nd, 3rd and so on while 8th, 9th and 10th places received minus points. The top team after round one advanced to the finals while 2nd through 8th went to a playoff to advance to the final)

Soon after the table draws were put out and people made their way to their seats. I was at table 2. I sat down and didnt recognize anyone, then Damon from The Cincinnati Club sat down and another player I recognized from playing in Glasgow, Colin. Damon was his usual polite, quiet, and withdrawn self, shouting at people across the room and generally making sure everyone knew he would win and that Cambo and Bandit would be the first out on their tables. A player at our table, Jack, was kind enough to deal for the table early on.

I had no hands early on, I raised 9Ts only be be minraised by a nice guy on my left named Andy. I called to see a KJT flop and check folded. Andy and I talked about American football for quite awhile, and it took me about point four seconds to realise he was drunk and quite new to poker. He was friendly and for some reason was incredibly interested in what was on my ipod. At one point I gave him an earphone to keep him happy. The game started at 25-25 blinds with a 5K starting stack. I had nothing at all through the first 3 levels and after making a so-so call with 3rd pair in a blind v blind pot, I was down to about 4K. I then made a nice call against Damon when blinds were 50-100. Jack limped in mid-position and I was on the button with Q9s. I limped as well (yes I was playing power poker with a strong limp on the button). Damon checked from the BB. The flop came A93 rainbow. Both checked, I checked behind. Turn came another A. Damon checked, Jack checked, I bet 200. Damon then thought about it and made it 500 to play. Jack folded and I called. The river came a 6 and Damon bet another 500. I insta-called and he mucked 65. It was around this time that we lost our first player of the tournament from a table behind me. Bob, a well known regular in Glasgow poker, stood up and got a little ovation for his premature finish. He even gave the adoring crowd a little hat flip for the attention. Say what you want about live poker compared to online, the social aspect of live is fantastic. A room full of people all talking poker is a lot of fun.

I found 77 a little later on but had to fold after a big raise from Damon that I was 95% sure was AA or KK. There was one caller and Damon moved in on a KJ5 flop. He showed AA after Russell folded TT faceup. The blinds now were 150-300 and we had yet to lose a player. I then pick up my first hand of the night, two black aces UTG. I limp in (Live is so different to how I plan online) hoping for a re-raise. Colin obliges and makes it 1350. It is folded to me and I shove for another 3050 on top of his raise. He thn starts talking a little, 'I dont think you are giving me credit for a big hand', 'I have a big hand' etc etc. I then think he has JJ maybe QQ as KK would be an easy call. He counts his chips, thinks a little more and calls. I flip AA, he says 'nh' and flips AJo. Cambo and Dale come and sweat the board. Flop brings two diamonds, and the turn and river come running diamonds and his Jdiamonds makes a flush. gg me. C'est la vie. So minus four points for the team. Nice.

I then ended up to talking to Dale (AQ v AA with no outdraw) and Cambo (QQ no good v AK) about our chances of advancing. The words 'not good' and 'Fergus and Ludo need to win their tables' were passed around. That being said, as much as we wanted to advance, watching how excited the people were was priceless. And the tables had people all around it cheering their team on, fun to see. I got bored with not being involved so I went back to my original table and volunteered to deal. The table had eight remaining: Russell, Dave, Barry, Jack, Andy, Damon, Colin, and Mary. Damon went first with TT v Barry's QJs all in preflop. Barry and Russel went out next on the same hand v Mary on a KQT board. Russell held J9 for the straight, Barry had AJ for a better straight and Mary had QT for bottom two pair. All in on the flop and Mary spiked a Q on the turn for the boat. 5 left. Colin went next on a small hand, but the damage was done when he shoved over Mary's UTG raise with AA and Mary called with AKs. The flop brought 2 clubs, and the turn completed the flush. 4 left. Dave ended up pushing K6s from the button shortstacked, to be called by Jack with Ax. Andy in the BB thought and thought and after much deliberation folded what I later found out to be JJ. The board brought no help and Jack doubled through Dave, and Dave was out the next hand. Three handed Andy ended up with a shortstack on a hand I cant recall. The heads up between Mary and Jack lasted a long time, which I had to leave early from as I was getting tired and needed a toilet break. After a see-saw match, Jack ended up taking it down w KK v 99. It was a well fought game.

After all the tables were accounted for The Cincinnati Club came in first getting the bye to the final while 'The Seething Farces' (my team) squeaked into 7th place and the playoffs. The 2nd table was another sng, but the starting stacks were determined by your teams position in round one. The starting stacks ended up being: one 8000 stack, two 6500 stacks, one 5000 stack, and three 3000 stacks. I was now the proud owner of 3000 chips and high hopes.

The table had the_hair, ____ Duncan (cant remember your name, sorry), Jack from my original table, a woman named Christine, a nice guy named Peter, and a young player on my direct left but I didnt catch his name. I had no hands early on but stayed afloat by playing any hand quite hard. I stole a few times to keep in it and we lost a few people before an interesting hand occurred that involves a really neat dynamic of live poker; human error. Jack and Peter were in a pot with Peter in position. The board reads 3d4d6d7d. On the turn, Jack checks. Peter checks behind. But instead of burning and turning the river, Jack says, 'I have the Kd,' and flips the Kd. He immediately realises the hand is not over and flips it back over. We all laugh as he deals the river; 9c. He then checks. As he does this, I instantly think 'How sick would this be if Peter moves in?' Peter, then moves in for about 9K into a 2K pot. I think this is hilarious and pretty much decide this is why I play live poker from time to time. Jack thinks and thinks and folds. Peter then shows the 2d and mucks the other card. Interesting. (For what it is worth, I call I think, that being said, I in no way instacall and totally respect Peter's move).

As all this is going on, I see that Dale, Fergus, and Ludo are all out and our team has no way to advance. I am now playing for the 100£ to the table winner. I end up shoving some suited cards to stay in it, then get A9 and snap off Duncan's A6. I then get AJ in the BB and re-raise Peter's button raise all in. He calls and shows AT. The flop comes AAJ and no 2nd J for a split pot comes and I am chip daddy. But there was only 36K at the table so 3 handed, the blinds were important to steal as much as possible. I end up stealing quite a bit, with the_hair doing his part as well moving in on limped pots. I knew he was doing this but was content to let him steal in the hopes I limp a big hand. I then got ATs and limped the button. He shoved A6o from the SB, Jack passed, and I called. He hit a 6 and we are pretty even again. I dont blame his play at all as he was short and needed to do it. Thats the danger with slow playing, but I would do it again in that situation. Jack ended up shoving from the SB to my BB shortly after and I made the call with KQ. He had K2 and didnt hit. Heads up. The heads up lasted about 10 hands or so, and marked the first time all night I got my money in behind. the_hair limped the button and I checked 52s. The flop came J2J and he bet 3K. I didnt think he would bet a J, and thought he may fold if I push. I pushed and he made a good call with 33. So obviously the turn is a 2 and I hit trips. He played the hand well, and in hindsight it was a bad play due to the fact he limped the button. The proper play would have been to flat call the flop and lead the turn another 3K regardless what came trying to value a J. Thats poker though and it happens to us all. 100£ is cool with me. It was a really fun table and I had a good time talking to the_hair and Duncan throughout the night. Jack was a really nice guy but was on the other side of the table so it was tough to make small talk.

All in all the night was a great success in my eyes, and having so many people wanting to play in the event is a great testimony to the poker scene in Glasgow. I got home at about 4:30am when the finals had yet to begin, but I found out today The Cincinnati Club won it. Congrats. I am looking forward to the next one.

Thanks January - You're Alright

My best month by far. In fact this is actually more than double my best month ever.

If I can run like this all the time, then I am a happy man.

On top of the graph I also made about 300-400 in omalol and another 900 or so in fpps. So about a $9500 month. (Although I only keep 1/2 the graph due to getting staked, which is ok though as even with only 1/2 the graph it still beats my best month lol)

Next month I want: 1) Play atleast 40K hands, and atleast 6-8K of those at 400NL.
2) Make 10K not including fpps
3) 18K vpps (this month I was just short of 15K)


I am playing in a team even tonight at the Alea Casino here in Glasgow. Five players per, twenty teams, 100 players, fifty pound a player, 5K prize pool. If you are bored and want to know how it works, here is a link to the Blonde forum thread about it here. I'll write about how I did tomorrow.

Some Random Vids I Watched Today

I spend way too much time on youtube and other sites. Here are a few of my all time fav vids.

Karma is a bitch




Flight of the Conchords is too good




I watched this goal when I was like eleven years old and Gilmour was my hero, I went bananas when he scored. It is from Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Five. I must have watched that tape 200 times.


Here is another vid from the '93 playoffs when the Leafs beat Detroit in Joe Louis Arena in game 7. I think the 93 playoffs were the greatest playoffs in hockey history, maybe even sports history. The Leafs playing three consecutive 7 game series', the Kings-Leafs series was the toughest hockey ever played, the Habs winning 10 OT games to win the cup, and the McSorley stick call that Demers used in game 2 in Montreal. The Habs lose that game and go to LA down 2-0 it may have been over. Desjardins hat trick as well. Anyways, here is Borchevsky in OT in game 7 in round 1.




I will post more, but I was watching these today. Man oh man I wish I had been older when the Leafs made this run. Such a sick playoffs that I didnt appreciate at the time.

Ship the Cash Yo

Got home from school, read some 2+2, watched some videos on tsn.ca (Canadian Sports Channel back home), then ordered a chicken kebab with some chips. Wife came home, we ate dinner and watched two episodes of Peep Show. (That show is genuinely incredible). The she went to the gym and I did some grinding. Three hours later, $1005 and 1400 vpps. Life is good.

Heater

I am most definitely-absolutely-no doubt about it on a heater.

I am running so sick. What sucks is that I know it wont last forever, but thats ok.

Examples:

***** Hand History for Game 24130541215 *****
$200.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Wednesday, January 21, 06:51:36 ET 2009
Table Finsen II (Real Money)
Seat 6 is the button
Seat 1: sixpuck ( $200.00 USD )
Seat 2: Iberico ( $248.80 USD )
Seat 3: Galam ( $37.00 USD )
Seat 4: MCLegend ( $419.10 USD )
Seat 5: 8fivesuited ( $200.00 USD )
Seat 6: Knightsridge ( $249.65 USD )
Seat 7: refeohknarf ( $40.00 USD )
Seat 8: SurfRipper ( $126.35 USD )
refeohknarf posts small blind [$1.00 USD].
SurfRipper posts big blind [$2.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Knightsridge [ Qd As ]
sixpuck folds
Iberico folds
Galam folds
MCLegend raises [$6.00 USD]
8fivesuited folds
Knightsridge raises [$18.00 USD]
refeohknarf folds
SurfRipper folds
MCLegend calls [$12.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 8s, Qs, Js ]
MCLegend bets [$32.00 USD]
Knightsridge raises [$85.00 USD]
MCLegend raises [$369.10 USD]
Knightsridge calls [$146.65 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 9d ]
** Dealing River ** [ 2s ]
MCLegend shows [Jh, Jc ]
Knightsridge shows [Qd, As ]
Knightsridge wins $499.30 USD from main pot


***** Hand History for Game 24230610042 *****
$200.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, January 24, 06:29:07 ET 2009
Table Leonid (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Seat 1: Billy_Low ( $250.95 USD )
Seat 2: bet2live ( $40.00 USD )
Seat 3: WHERErMYnutZ ( $240.05 USD )
Seat 4: Knightsridge ( $351.40 USD )
Seat 5: zefi666 ( $44.00 USD )
Seat 7: wildogg2k5 ( $200.00 USD )
Seat 8: Mucky12 ( $271.95 USD )
Seat 9: Schmo800 ( $249.25 USD )
WHERErMYnutZ posts small blind [$1.00 USD].
Knightsridge posts big blind [$2.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Knightsridge [ Kc Ks ]
zefi666 folds
wildogg2k5 folds
Mucky12 folds
Schmo800 folds
Billy_Low raises [$6.00 USD]
bet2live folds
WHERErMYnutZ folds
Knightsridge raises [$18.00 USD]
Billy_Low calls [$14.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 4d, Kd, Td ]
Knightsridge bets [$25.00 USD]
Billy_Low raises [$80.00 USD]
Knightsridge raises [$306.40 USD]
Billy_Low calls [$150.95 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jd ]
** Dealing River ** [ Th ]
Knightsridge shows [Kc, Ks ]
Knightsridge wins $499.90 USD from main pot
Billy_Low doesn't show [6d, 7d ]


***** Hand History for Game 24227118214 *****
$200.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Saturday, January 24, 04:31:04 ET 2009
Table Mertona (Real Money)
Seat 9 is the button
Seat 1: urodoc ( $61.00 USD )
Seat 3: yeshwana ( $234.15 USD )
Seat 4: RebelGimbert ( $90.00 USD )
Seat 6: disruptor44 ( $212.00 USD )
Seat 7: Knightsridge ( $239.50 USD )
Seat 8: Dr. Fells ( $222.00 USD )
Seat 9: MrJoski ( $182.45 USD )
urodoc posts small blind [$1.00 USD].
yeshwana posts big blind [$2.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Knightsridge [ Kc As ]
RebelGimbert raises [$6.00 USD]
disruptor44 folds
Knightsridge raises [$18.00 USD]
Dr. Fells folds
MrJoski folds
urodoc folds
yeshwana calls [$16.00 USD]
RebelGimbert folds
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9s, 6s, 5s ]
yeshwana checks
Knightsridge bets [$25.00 USD]
yeshwana raises [$93.00 USD]
Knightsridge raises [$196.50 USD]
yeshwana calls [$123.15 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Qs ]
** Dealing River ** [ Td ]
yeshwana shows [Kd, Ks ]
Knightsridge shows [Kc, As ]
Knightsridge wins $472.30 USD from main pot

In each example, I dont fault my play at all. I think I played them fine. I disagree quite heavily how KK in hand 3 played it, raise that every time imo, and also 67s in hand 2. I just dont think calling a three bet with 67s there is profitable. Most flops will not nail 67s and it means having to call a big flop bet to see a turn. Maybe I am way off base, but the times you do hit a flop with 67s, many times it will miss the other player so calling 18 to win say 40 (18+flop bet which 67s raises=40 or so) is not great poker when it only happens every 4th-5th time. The JJ hand played itself. I am not folding top pair nut flush draw ever there so thats just unlucky. C'est la vie.

I ended up making $2500 last week (Monday-Sunday) and this week I am up almost $3200 thus far. Last Sunday was my first $1K day and I have had two more $1K days since then. I am hoping to get in another session tomorrow to cap off the week.

I was talking to the guy who stakes me and he mentioned if I wanted to go to 400NL to see what its like we can talk about it for this coming week. LOL. I was playing 50NL 2 months ago.

Oh, and Vanessa Rousso sat at a table with me last night. I would never have noticed except the chat box was going mental with people asking her questions. We only played one hand together and she min raised me lol.

***** Hand History for Game 24204167581 *****
$200.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Friday, January 23, 11:09:28 ET 2009
Table Cruithne VII (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Seat 2: prtrs ( $52.70 USD )
Seat 3: Knightsridge ( $200.00 USD )
Seat 5: LadyMaverick ( $206.75 USD )
Seat 6: uptownslim ( $494.60 USD )
Seat 7: Landoit ( $210.15 USD )
Seat 8: DaDestroyer ( $197.00 USD )
Seat 9: bet2live ( $40.00 USD )
LadyMaverick posts small blind [$1.00 USD].
uptownslim posts big blind [$2.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Knightsridge [ 5c 9s ]
Landoit folds
DaDestroyer folds
bet2live folds
prtrs folds
Knightsridge raises [$4.00 USD]
LadyMaverick calls [$3.00 USD]
uptownslim calls [$2.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ Qd, 3d, Qs ]
LadyMaverick checks
uptownslim checks
Knightsridge bets [$8.00 USD]
LadyMaverick raises [$16.00 USD]
uptownslim folds
Knightsridge calls [$8.00 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ 6s ]
LadyMaverick checks
Knightsridge bets [$22.00 USD]
LadyMaverick folds
Knightsridge wins $41.85 USD from main pot

I Like Poker

It took a little while, but today I had my first $1000 day. I am a little in awe at how much I grinded the tables to be able to put days like this together. When I first started my blog, and pretty much playing online poker seriously, I was playing for pennies, and a $15 day was great. In no way do I think 'I have arrived at poker perfection', nor do I think $1K days will be the norm, but I did not get lucky to make as much as I did today. I am playing good solid poker and it feels so sick to know I earned the money rather than luckboxing my way in.

I hope there are a lot more days like this in the future.

PS: The largest pot I have ever played online was today

***** Hand History for Game 24021034542 *****
$200.00 USD NL Texas Hold'em - Sunday, January 18, 12:58:17 ET 2009
Table Rigel V (Real Money)
Seat 8 is the button
Seat 1: river_r4t85 ( $295.05 USD )
Seat 2: x--SoSick--x ( $178.00 USD )
Seat 3: Knightsridge ( $297.90 USD )
Seat 4: dorla99 ( $141.50 USD )
Seat 5: fripotin ( $166.00 USD )
Seat 6: sbrick5 ( $520.55 USD )
Seat 7: mistoukzz ( $92.45 USD )
Seat 8: ariolis30 ( $120.00 USD )
Seat 9: lllFSlll ( $289.65 USD )
lllFSlll posts small blind [$1.00 USD].
river_r4t85 posts big blind [$2.00 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Knightsridge [ 9c 9s ]
x--SoSick--x folds
Knightsridge raises [$6.00 USD]
dorla99 folds
fripotin folds
sbrick5 calls [$6.00 USD]
mistoukzz folds
ariolis30 folds
lllFSlll folds
river_r4t85 calls [$4.00 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9h, 6s, Kh ]
river_r4t85 checks
Knightsridge bets [$12.00 USD]
sbrick5 raises [$34.00 USD]
river_r4t85 calls [$34.00 USD]
Knightsridge raises [$279.90 USD]
sbrick5 calls [$257.90 USD]
river_r4t85 folds
** Dealing Turn ** [ Jc ]
** Dealing River ** [ Qs ]
Knightsridge shows [9c, 9s ]
Knightsridge wins $633.80 USD from main pot
sbrick5 doesn't show [Kd, As ]

200NL + Heater = Good Times

Played 200NL last night and tonight and I had 2 of my best cash sessions ever. If I had continued either session I am 90% sure I could have eclipsed $1000 on atleast one of them (I have never hit $1K in a day yet), but last night I was a little tired, and tonight the wife and I were eating dinner then chilling.

I can only hope this run continues for a looooooooong time.

Update and Moving On Up

Well last week I didnt play very much as I was in Ireland for the weekend. My wife's grandmother had her 90th birthday so it was a big family thing.

Convo from the night:

me: 'Happy Birthday Granny (I call her granny cause everyone does) is your birthday today or is it later this week?'
her: 'Yes, the dinner was very good'
me: 'Yeah, ok, umm, what do you think of the music tonight, not bad eh?'
her: 'Oh goodness no, not me for me, the dancing is for the young ones.'

So in a way, I guess a 90 year old woman shot me down.

Anyways, I made $300 in holdem and about another $100 or so in omaha last week. I am even more excited for this week though because I contacted my staker about moving up to 200NL and he is all for it. So I am going to grind the 200NL tables for a little while. Should be fun. I start tonight when he is doing a session with me over skype. Im not sure if I am playing and he talks me through or he plays and talks through it. Either way I am up for it. I think I will be playing a session directly afterwards.

Heres to hoping.

First weekend of '09

Played a little last night, 12 tabled for about an hour and a half. Then played some more this morning, 16 tabled for about 2 hours. I may play some more tonight but I have work in the morning, and a 6:45 wakeup for the first time in 2 weeks may be tough.

Goals for 2009

Well its 2009.

2008 was good. I moved into full ring from 6max. And I went from playing 25NL to being a semi-reg at 100NL. Without a doubt however, my game has grown in leaps and bounds. I started the year playing 25NL and winning $70-100 in a day (1-2 hour sessions mainly) was sick good. I am now playing 3-4 hour sessions at 100NL and I am making more in fpps alone.

December 2008 also saw the first month that I made more from poker than I do as a secondary school teacher. It is both cool and disturbing at the same time. Cool because money is great and I love to play. Disturbing because I dont feel like I earned the money at poker. Its a game I play on a computer while wearing pyjamas. Teaching on the other hand, I have to get up at 6:45am five times a week, wear a tie, do a shitload of paperwork, and try and get my kids ready for exams. Dont get me wrong, I like teaching, kids are cool, and when you get a kid to understand something for the first time its a great feeling. That being said, wearing jogging pants and a t-shirt, and hitting top set 100BB+ deep is a better feeling.

So with that in mind here are my goals for 2009:

1. Play 700K hands this year (I will be aiming for 60K a month)
2. Keep Supernova for the entire year (aka hit 100K vpp before end of June)
3. Hit 200K vpps for the year which would give me the 200K milestone bonus of $2000
4. Move up to 200NL permanently and maybe the odd shot at 400NL from time to time
(and this is pushing it I think.....but)
5. Make $40,000 including fpp cash bonuses.

I currently have $4500 in my roll (just took out 3K for various things, but that is the last cashout for awhile) and 52,670 fpps. From now on I am only cashing out the 250,000 fpp bonus for $4,000. With 200K vpp over the year, that is 700K fpps. That is almost three $4,000 bonuses. Combine that with the 200K $2000 bonus and I could have almost $14,000 in fpps alone. That would put me at 35% of my goal already.

Anyways, those are my goals.

I fly to Glasgow tomorrow morning and I hope to put in a session tomorrow night.

Heres to Hoping.

Last 2 Weeks

I am currently at my wife's family's house in Dunloy Northern Ireland, but we head back to Glasgow tomorrow morning. I spent the last week at her family's summer home in Donegal which is is the republic. However, there is no internet there so I have just spent 2 hours getting back into some things I missed in the sports/poker/news world.

Anyways, had a good Christmas. Ate too much and slept late. Pretty normal for most.

I played twice while I had internet during my first week of the break. The first was for an hour and I made $115, the second was for about 5 hours and I made $510. My game is coming along nicely and I am trying some new things with my game which are working out...always nice when that happens.

The 2nd week I basically hung out with the wife's family and watched movies. Here are some I can remember.

Layer Cake - great movie, not as good as Lock Stock or Snatch, but very entertaining
In Bruges - Hilarious. Colin Farrell was very good.
The Holiday - Wife loves this film, its alright.
Remember the Titans - Cheesey over the top American football film. How can you not like it?
The 9th Gate - Plot is weak, script is weak, but I always like watching it
The Family Stone - Christmas Movie on tv that I never heard of it and was surprisingly impressed with.
Lucky Number Slevin - Entertaining, but found it tried too hard to be slick and twisty
The Usual Suspects - In my top 5 easy. Seen it over 50 times and still get a chill in the coffee cup scene
Bad Boys 2 - Shit just got real.

Thats all I can think of right now but there is about 4-5 more. All in all, quite a productive holiday.