amateurhour

No Play, just DIY

2012-02-10T00:28:00.003Z

No posts in past few weeks basically means not been playing or getting any beats, run bads, playing shit etc so don't have any moaning to post..lols
Actually been a shed load of DIY. plastering, tiling, painting etc. House has been very chaotic. For a couple of weeks I couldn't even see my desk, let alone play poker on it.
Got another couple of weeks of work to do then will looking to hit the poker hard again. Been very busy at work too, and doing extra hours.
All this is geared towards putting the house on the market in April, with the aim of selling and getting a bigger place. This will mean me being able to have a room that I can use as an office/sports/gym room....weeeee

On the poker front I will be aiming at the 45 and 180 manners on stars, and caning the DoNs for RB.
Lots of good threads on blonde atm for betting, especially Tikay's betting thread. I haven't bet in months, bug defo getting the bug again, will also be doing some of this on betfair once house is sorted out.

Different site, running the same

2012-01-23T01:34:00.002Z

Played on stars tonight in a couple of their tournies with thousands of runners. Usual bullshit still occuring.
Running well in one tourney then get AA - 44. As seems abso standard in these spots this year a 4 hits the fucking river, all in pre of course.
Then lose another chunk when my 77 is no good v a bb call with Q5o which gets there. Then get finished off when I shove my shortish stack on the button with A7dd into the BBs JJ. Not even the 2 diamond flop helps, sigh.

Aside from one tourney, 2012 has been a blowout. Running fucking terrible, in all aspects it seems.

Asked some people who know these things about the new coach proposed by Moshman. The result was what I thought. The coach doesn't have the pedigree. Certainly not for the profit they would be looking at.

A min cash and Apat

2012-01-22T00:14:00.002Z

After my somewhat rant in my last post regarding ipoker, all of which still stands/ I was still left in the daily dollar..lols
This is a dollar entry, but has a slower structure than the $10 and $15 tourneys!!!
Ended up finishing around 40th from a 1000odd for about $3...lol
Had one player who after being gifted a triple up in the first level limp/called every hand. Obv his pile of shite constantly caught 2 pair, trips, flushes etc. Think he finished about fifth!
That was my first cash in about 25 tournies. haven't cashed since.

Today i played the Apat tournament at the Rendezvous in Brighton. Was always around average, slightly above for first 5 levels, then just kept getting either called or reraised and kept missing flops. Only saw 1 decent pair KK, which got me the blinds at 25-50..lol
One player was active and was getting big hands and hitting flops, constantly. I was slightly below ave when i called a shorties push with 77. Was looking good v A8, especially as said active player passed and showed an ace. Flop was 86x sigh. Turn was a 5. The 865 were all spades, as was one of my 7s. Despite this I couldn't catch a 4,7,9 or a spade to catch one of my million outs. Then pushed my A6 with 15 bigs from the button into the sb's AJ, sigh.
Casino is fucking useless tbh. I haven't been there for years and while the room is plenty big enough, the service is fucking awful.
They had 2 staff to cover the bar and the valet at the tables and food orders!!! Fucking ridic when hosting a tourney of 100+ people. I bought a coke and it not only tasted fucking disgusting, but was £2.70 like WTF?
Then there was the dinner break. It was 30 mins. Fucking ridiculous. No buffet and pointless ordering food in casino as all the locals stated it takes them 2 hours to fulfill an order on a quiet night!!! Was also fucking hot in there.
Not that it bothers me but lols that they allow people in wearing tracksuits and trainers!!!

Have had a change of plan with the coaching. Aiming for the 45 and 180 manners on stars. Just waiting to see if the coach is any good for this. awaiting answers from some people that will know!
Will need to get Holdem manager, SNGwiz, skype and team viewer. Whoever said this poker lark was cheap!!!
May also need a new laptop to make sure it all runs okay. If this is the case it may well be gg Vegas at the end of the year. Only spare money I have is in dollars, so may have to cash that in to get a lappie and the software required, sigh.

Am off for a couple of days now so will do a mini Sunday schedule. One time for a comma bink. Not much to ask for is it!!!!1

IPOKER......

2012-01-17T21:21:00.004Z

Can go fuck itself. Absolutely fucking steaming from the amount of bullshit there.
Lobbys never work, every fucking night the lobbys freeze or are at least 30 mins behind, havent got a fucking clue where I am in tournies.
They dont show ave stack and position on info tab, what the fucking point in having one.
Tables don't pop up when action on you, doesn't even flash in the tab most of the time.

Thats nothing compared to the utter arse raping I been getting lately.
Tonights exits have been:
JJ v 22 - he limp calls pre and hits quads
AJ v AQ - short stack pushed, I called which left me ridic short
AQ v A6 - flops the 3 outer
AJ v 1010 - Ace high flop, 10 on board by the end

Soooo fucked off, never gone 25 tourneys without a cash before. That doesnt sound like much but on ipoker only have a max of 4 on the go at once, often less. These are also micros so buyins only upto and including $15 tourneys. Actually winning at the $15 tourneys, getting 2 outered every $10 tourney and about even overall on the $5 tourneys.

Need to find another site, will run out of current roll on ipoker soon. Might go back to stars and grind the 45 man.
Don't think i'll take the coaching route for MTTs, don't think it is moshmanns strengths. The shit coach was one thing, but having already mentioned several times I am playing on ipoker they again asked this morning which site i'm playing on!!! Only heard good things about their stt coaching so might do that instead for 45 and 180 mans on stars.

Burning buyins

2012-01-17T01:53:00.002Z

My runbad continues apace. Have burnt through 65% of the roll I had on ipoker at the start of the year. Still getting fucked continously. Even more ridic when you see donkeys constantly getting stacks by playing fucking awful.

These are my latest awesome bust hands:

JJ v KQo - it goes raise, me 3 bet kq guy call and obvo flops the Q
AK v AJ
AJ v AK - short stack that pushed from cutoff in unopened pot
AQ v 77
AJ v A3
A10 v AJ - the aj guy limped utg then called my push
AQ v KK - my button v BB
AJ v AK - ak guy limps oop then snaps my shove
A5s v 66 - button v BB
JJ v 1010 - 10s rivered of course
A10 v KQ - rivered a 4 flush
89s V AQ - button v bb. The bb hadnt played a hand in 4 rounds
KK v AQ

Pretty fucking sick all in all. Two of those hands against the same player. He always limps/ calls pre with big hands. Always catches too. He had AQ in the last hand. So pissed off at the moment.

Contacted a site re: mtt coaching. Was really keen but they sent the screen name of the coach and he is fucking terrible. Apart from one small period in 2011 is a losing player. Even I rank higher in OPR % stats for stars. Soooo fucking lol, even more so that they want a potential several $k for it. Fucking lunacy

Coaching

2012-01-12T15:40:00.002Z

Been seriously thinking of getting some coaching for mtts. I have never had any before and to be honest i'm not really sure where my game is at.
In the past year I have been thinking about staking and made a few preliminary enquiries. The staking wasn't what I was really interested in, more the coaching that may come with it.
One reason I have always avoided coaching has been that with me playing micro stakes, a lot of lines/thinking in hands often don't apply. Micro donks just don't play that way. The cost is also prohibitive when only playing micros.
This year though I really want to move up in stakes. My regular mtts on ipoker had been the $5 jobbies. These usually have between $500-900 for first. I'm up slightly in these but run terrible a lot of the time, lots of donks to avoid. Lately have been adding the $10-15 tourneys in and have done okay in them.
Want to build the roll and be playing any tourneys up to $50 and across other sites.

Had been looking at sites bankrollsupply, as obviously they have ipoker as one of their sites. Though i'm in profit I doubt I have the games played they would be looking for.
At present I like the look of Team Moshman and their coaching set-up. Really like the coaching coming out of profits rather than a set fee up front. There has been plenty of so-called coaches in the poker world giving crap advice and basically 'doing a runner' with the money.
Will have to find out the finer points as obvo I work fulltime and have a family, so can't be mass grinding every day to play a ridic amount of games.

Another point of view may be that i'm moaning about nothing, my ROI is probs fine for mtts and just need to ride the varience. Alternatively i'm just shit...lols

If anyone knows of decent coaching/staking leave a comment!!!!

Unregged the rest

2012-01-08T23:18:00.003Z

Soooooooooooooo fucking pissed off.
been getting absolutely fucked all night. 3 tourney at the same time go pushing my sb into the BB. Twp call with shit and hit the other has not played a hand and wakes up with AQ.
Lose another when AA gets fucked on the river by QQ
Lost everytime I had A9+ go up against a small pair. Never made my draws, again cant get there with nut flush/straight draws against a single pair. Fucking ridiculous

Have dropped a third of my bankroll on ipoker the past few days. Running fucking redic.

As you can tell from the post my 'mental game' is obvo at its best...lols

Can't help but lose pounds. Without even trying lost 6lb this week for the weightless prop thing on blonde

Steaming

2012-01-08T01:44:00.008Z

Completely fucking pissed off atm.
Not won a fucking penny tonight playing a number of tournaments. Been plenty of sickness though.
Exits have been:
QQ v AQ. A on the river, where the fuck else
Button A7 v AJ bb
AQ v JJ money goes in A high, J river
A2 v 98
AK v JJ
AJ v AA money in on flop with nut flush draw/straight draw
A4sb v KKbutton this 9 spots off the money

Never hit a single draw all night, missed flops continously, general run like shit

Soooo many retards about too. Only one player that bust me actually cashed, fkn redic.

Always the river!!!!

2012-01-07T01:24:00.002Z

Have played a few tournies on differing sites the past couple of days and all have had a recurring theme - Fucking me over on the river.
Have had Aces cracked 3 times today, countless times have retards drawing to 3 aces on the river and them always getting there. Have seen ridiculous amounts of flush/straight draws get there on the river. A few times I hit a flush, the oppo had a bigger one. Running abso terrible at showdown.
Last tourney on ipoker there were 18 left and I was about 9th. Get AK but its no good vs the chippies J9hh which catches a flush on the river. Was for a 60k pot that puts me third.

Fucking annoying running so bad when deep. Really had a grip on the oppos too. had been short stacked, very short 4 tables out,but had build a stack without ever going to showdown. Mainly just picking off oppos weak raises/steals.

Had a ridic tourney on 888. 1300 players and paid out top 250. I finished 151st and only got back half my buyin, fucking ridic set-up there. Obvo keeping the fish happy.
888 has got to be the softest site out there at the mo. No one seems to have a fucking clue what they are doing. The software tilts the fuck out of me, also lags a fair bit, escpecially when you have other sites running.

Going to look for a desk over the coming days, been having a clear out just need to replace my computer desk with a proper one. The pc desk is not wide enough, and I cant get a chair right underneath it

Cash out curse....

2012-01-04T21:59:00.002Z

Made a withdrawal from ipoker today, mainly to pay for buyin to apat tourney in Brighton this month.
Play a couple of tourns on ipoker. First one go out with KK v A3 on a 9 high flop. He obvo got there after pushing the flop!
Then lost several small pots in another, kept flopping huge draws and never getting there. One retard had me twice, asically limping in multiway pots with big pairs JJ and KK and calling all bets no matter the board. I sure got there, sigh.

Just after regging for that tourney ipoker software decides to fuck up completely, lobby completely fucked, so no grind for me this evening there.
Would have been my first session of the year. So much for the plans to grind. just haven't been arsed to play this year.

Have started exercising again today, for this prop on blonde. Eating okay but not great. don't really give a fuck though really, always lost weight by exercise rather than diet, eat pretty healthy much the time.

Work tomorrow so no grind on stars tonight. Will look on 888 and IPN/boss for a few games.

Overview of 2011 & plans for 2012

2011-12-30T23:47:00.005Z

So, with it being the end of the year and all it's time to make that post, the one where you list every goal you missed for the year and ones you'll miss next year!!!!!...lols
looked at the start of the year blog post and didn't really post up many goals other than more volume - fail, play live more - fail, win enough to pay for Vegas - fail....sigh

Onto the positives. I made a profit at poker for the year again. Done that every year I have played poker. December was my best month online this year, in profit on every site I played. Made more profit this year online than I did last year. this was helped by a few final tables in mtts.
Had two trips to Vegas and finished in profit on both trips in poker. This is by far the biggest success. The tourneys I play are upto $100 buyin in Vegas. These are heavily raked, usually 30-40% taken from the prize pools. They are also top heavy payout. Making profit in these is therefore difficult. I have managed to profit the last few visits there, so very happy with that.
December has been a decent month. have played good poker and had success without having much in the way of decent starting hands, just played position and situations well. Finally had some cashes in ipoker mtts, and a couple of finals. If I only run to EV I think that i could get a decent profit just from the micros in mtts there.
On stars had a 47% cash rate at 45 manners. Defo need to grind more there.

So goals for 2012:
1) Grind more, well properly
2) Play some live events
3) Build a 5 figure roll
4) Pay for Vegas trip(s) with poker profits

Will do this by:
1) This is something I, along with pretty much all other poker players, say i want to do every year, then fail miserably. I really have no excuse not to. Bought a HannsG monitor this year, and a regular mouse, which make grinding soooo much easier. The only thing I do need to do is buy/build a desk. Currently have monitor sitting on basic trolley type pc desk, and not enough room for laptop, or to get the chair under the desk properly. Then need to play there, rather than in the lounge whilst watching tv. Need to spend less time on general internet shit, including forums.

2) This is a major one for me, as I have pretty much only played live in Vegas the past few years, bar the LPC tourney I quialified for on blonde a couple of years ago. The standard is softer than online too, and i can use my skills to read oppos and situations.
Have actually made a start to this as have bought in to the apat event at the Rendezvous in Brighton in January. Would like to qualify for of the Genting tour events, and a UKIPT. Defo need to get to a couple of events at DTD, as never played there, sigh.

3)This is defo the hardest as my online roll is only a few hundred £s. I think this is very achievable though, even for a proper micro stakes player like me! Will require volume though. I have an ok rakeback deal with Pokerencore and really should take advantage of that by actually getting some volume in, and some decent RB. I'm sure Karl would happy, rather than have me bitching about a couple a quid of RB that hasn't been paid. gotta say hats off to Karl though, his customer service is A1. It's always a good barometer for me, how people look after their smaller customers, as to how good their customer service is. Hopefully i'll be raking a lot more than this year, wont be hard..lol
As usual, I expect the growing of the bankroll to come from mtt binks/FTs. I suppose that how much i play live or enter sats for live events, will depend on how the roll is doing.
I'm a proper BR nit so never bust my roll trying to qualify for events.

4) This is a must target for all players imo. Will have at least one trip, currently planned for November with friends from work. Have enough $$ for spending for that already, leftovers from this years trips. Perhaps i'll stick a virgin airways link up and get sooo many referrals that I earn enough miles to pay for the flights..lol

Non poker goals are currently based around health and fitness. Want to run a few half marathons and at least one marathon next year. Been a goal for a few years, but need to get off my fat ass for one, then keep away from the injuries when I do get into it!
Have signed up to a weight-loss prop on blondepoker. Basically have to weigh-in on Jan 1st, then lose 24lb in 12 weeks, or pay £20 for every lb that you lose less than 24 i.e. only lose 16lb and have to pay £160. all money will go to charity.
really looking forward to this as been feeling like shit for the past 2-3 weeks. I know it's due to weight/lack of exercise. Will be absolutely 'beastmoding' (copyright of Cos/greekstein)in the gym from the 2nd Jan.

Runbad

2011-12-26T04:58:00.002Z

Played a few games on 888 and ran bad. Shit like A8s v JJ bvb, to getting fucked on the river by A4 v my AK. The worst thing was the cunt who insta called my shove on the limpers had won every all in which he had called an all in with filth and got there. Put philipvs3 in your friends list for 888 as he is a proper lucky donk cunt. An aussie to boot, no surprise there.
Need to get a few more games in on 888 to ensure that I get a bonus payment, sigh. It's like ipoker, the donks are fucking everywhere and regularly seem to get there.
Want to get a few games done on ipoker too, before the cashes run out.
Will write up my (limited) achievements in poker, and plans for next year on the poker front.

A min cash day

2011-12-22T22:39:00.003Z

Played a couple of tournies on ipoker and one on 888. Managed to min cash all 3, such a nit, sigh.
Was actually well placed in the 888 one after getting aces 3 times in one level and getting paid each time. Then just went card dead and kept getting coolered i.e. AJ into AQ BoB, JJvQQ button v blind.
Last few levels had a Spanish donk who kept going all in and getting there, then went on a heater where he was getting a huge pair every hand. Could find a spot and went 36th when pushed A5 into AQ. The table had just filled so had assumed it was last 30, and a ladder, but of course 888 are 9 handed hence the 36th place, sigh.
The ipoker ones were pretty much grinds to the money, never getting a rush of cards, just a hand/spot occasionally to get a few chips to maintain stacks.
Playd a few DoNs on 888 and while they are soft as shit, think a few players may know each other and playing soft against each other. Noticed the same 5 or 6 Czech players on the same tables. was still cashing 60% of the time so not sure if anything in it or not, will see how this one develops.

Profit on the day...somehow

2011-12-17T22:16:00.002Z

So, I decide to play a mini scedule of micros on saturday, to go with a few depositors freerolls etc. Get nowhere in the freerolls, standard. Play a micro on 888 and get a small cash. Some very poor players there. Limp folding with less that 10BBs seems to be a norm there!!!
Nothing doing in stars tourneys.
Played ipoker in the afternoon and bricked. Played some in then evening and had terrible start. OUt of 1 with JJ getting owned by 66, then AK owned by A8. Then run QQ into AA, sigh.
Got the first small cash in a $1 turbo, all that was running. Later had a stack in a $5 mtt. Was 1st or around first from 50 left to about 20 left. Went card dead after this, just stealing in pos. Was soooo card dead the only pair I saw was 22. Yep it really was that bad.
Anyway managed to come 4th for $100 odd. Nice addition to my micro roll.

Doomswitch on Ipoker

2011-12-16T16:58:00.002Z

Since my ok cash in a $15 mtt on ipoker the micro mtts have been giving me the usual butt fucking. Sick fucking beats/coolers every fucking game. Stuff like AKvAQvAQ and the board coming with a queen on it, or AK hitting a AKx flop and two players with suited rag hearts catching the heart river!!!!!
Been having plenty of 4 flushes too. Think I have had 1 cash in micro mtts on ipoker. The standard is obviously lol bad, but fucking hell do the donks seem to continually get there.
Same can be said for stars 180 manners. Constantly getting to around last 30-50 then getting fucked. Not cashed in a single one I have played in past 2 months.
90 manners were going the same way before I came 4th in one..lols
45 manners been going great guns, cashing over 45% of the time. If only the other games would go as well.

Have bought in to the APAT tourney in Brighton in January. £75 buyin, or $120 in 888poker money.

Missed the stars Sunday storm last sunday with the $1m guarantee as I fell asleep..doh
away this weekend so can't play any Sunday tourneys this week. Going to play a schedule tonight on ipoker(OUCH-can feel the beats already), stars, and a few freerolls on 888- new player & depositor freerolls. Will also try a few of the micros on stars.

Arrrggghhhh!!!!!

2011-12-11T07:05:00.002Z

That basically describes my pokering the last few days. Been getting absolutely fucked in spots, usually when on/around the bubble. Stars have defo turned the boomswitch off...lol
Had sooo many counterfit hands it unreal. Stuff like 88 vs A3 and getting K94K9 type flops. Had a redic amount of 3 outers too on dominated hands, stuff like KQ getting done by Q3 etc.
Have had a pair better then JJ on one occasion, AA that actually held up. JJ still running good for me though. Think I have lost every hand I have played when up against J10 off. WTF is it that people feel this is a genuine hand to call all ins with!!!
Obvo redic that i'm cussing these calls but meh, if only these shit calls wouldn't keep getting rewarded.
Got a chat warning from stars over non-standard use of chat!!! lols, how the fuck I didn't get a straight ban I do not know. Would probably be better for me if I did get a ban!!!
On stars I don't even usually have the chat open, prefer the stats page when multitabling. However last night i wasn't playing much. Felt tired, and 888 the cunts wouldn't let me reg for all the freerolls for newbies/new depositors etc. These are goldmines for a nit like me, with a micro BR.
Did play one such thing on ipoker, 'cash for points' freeroll. These are sick soft and basically what allowed me to have a roll(without depositing) a couple of months ago. These are sick soft, but you need to dodge bullets. Was comfortable throughout most of it. Dominated final table but from 4 left a shortie just luckboxed everything, took out 2 others getting lucky then hit everything against me HU. Only a 2nd for me this time, but a few more pennies to the BR.

Have signed up to play for Kent in the apat league thing. Don't live near the county but it's the closest apat team to me.
Will be playing the $1m guarenteed sunday storm on stars tonight. Shipping the $150k for first would do..lols Stars owe me some run good, this would be a good time to cash that in!!!!!

Grinding, well sort of...

2011-12-08T08:30:00.002Z

The term grinding more accurately describes my games at the tables at present, rather than the tables/hours i'm putting in.
Continue to have profitable sessions at micro cash, so many lol bad players.
Been playing a bit on stars as been playing during the night. 45 manners been going well, cashing over 40% of the time. Think I got the pace of 'em, and when to make shoves pretty much there. Same can't be said for the 180s though. Problem with them is that i'm just not seeing any big hands. the blinds soon get big in the turbos, and at times you need hands as your getting called on your shoves. Had a shit night tonight in them. Always got hands in ahead but oppos always spiking. Best pai I have seen this week is 10s when in the BB, and got a bloody walk...lols

Looking to play the APAT event at the Rendezvous in Brighton in January. Can't remember the last time I played there, must be at least 5 years ago!!!

Beat 195k players, get $6

2011-12-05T10:16:00.002Z

Title says it all as a summary for the world record tourney on stars. 200k players started, I finished around 3500 and got $6 back for my $1 buyin, sick!!!
Wouldn't have been as much as that but stars only paid out top 6% in this instead of their usual circa 15% in mtts.
Had 2 pairs all tourney, 77 in the second level, and JJ about 90mins in. Otherwise just stole in position. Was actually a shove fest of a tourney. 5 mins blinds and around a 16bb ave for most of it. I was pretty much always short, just never got going. JJ seems to be the best pair i'm getting this month.

On Saturday arvie, played a couple of micro stake mtts on ipoker, no decent hands and got a couple of beats to not trouble the scoreboards. Been like that for a while in mtts on ipoker now, just never get anything going than lose a race or get a beat to bust.
Anyway, was planning on playing IPOPS online event 4. this was the main event $125+$10 buyin guaranteed at $500k. Planned to sat in and saw that they had a $10 sat on saturday night/sunday am at 00:55. Load up the lappie and the sat wasn't showing in my lobby. Finally find it going through the main event tourney page, that showed the sat listings for that event. missed the reg by a minute,sigh.
Then see that a $15+$1.50 tourney is about to start, so reg that.

Tourney had 110 runners, paying top 20. $440 for first. Got a double inn 2nd level when AK was good against KQ on K high board. Way the hand played out thought he probs had a better hand than that but was obvo not the case. Didn't see a lot else in this, and just used position to pick up chips at the right time. Got to the money but short. Couple of shoves, got me to final as short stack.
On my starting yable was an abso prick: player name HUWood. He constantly abused others in chat on final table, saying how h had led from the start and was gonna crush all etc.. He was on my starting table and basically got a stack by getting lucky several times when all in and behind.
Any way pretty much don't play and hand for 3 rounds then get JJ. raised and got 3 callers. Awesome QJ3 flop. Check it and push a raiser. He had 33 for bottom set. Someone else had AQ and also called. Got a decent stack after this. Played steady for a bit. Then got 63 in the BB. HUWood, on my left, limped in. flop was 883. I check raised him all in, he was betting anytime someone checked, but folding to heat. I had a much bigger stack though. He tank called with 55, to leave me short. Was abs pissed off, but think it was the right move. Had only played the JJ and no way should he have though that 55 was good there. Got a small stack with AJ beating A10. Made some shoves and got to 5th before getting short and pushing 6bbs into A5 with 72s..lols Got $115, almost the buyin for IPOPS.

Didn't play IPOPS in the end. Had 3 hours sleep after working Sat night and didn't feel like grinding a 10k stack for that buyin. It got 3300 runners in the end. $77k overlay.
Looking back, the $15 tourney didn't have any better standard of play than the micros does. People still call when they shouldn't, the play on final table was tight a lot of the time, so no loose spots, people generally had it when betting out.

Have been tracking my mtts on OPR and pokerlabs, very lol. I am a small winner, playing micros, yet rank as one of the better players, says it all about how many losers there actually are in poker.

Planning(read hoping) to carry on playing/grinding this month, had a good start and would like to start building a roll again..lols

Played a few games

2011-12-02T22:31:00.002Z

Played a few games for the first time in a couple of months this week. Had a meh start when lost a buyin on my second hand on a cash table when AK was no match for A3. Got that back a few hands later though when 10J caught a straight and got paid off. Was playing some cash on ipoker and 45/90 manners on stars with some 50fifty thrown in. First 90 manner had AA lose to 85o...lol
Didn't do anything in first few but then took a win in a 45 manner. 50fifty about even, even though had a good cash rate. Looking at it I prefer DoNs, generally get more when you cash. You have to gamble a lot in 50fifty to get a stack, pretty much the opposit of DoN standard strategy. For the risk you need to put in to get a stack, you may as well just play standard SnG's as they offer better rewards for getting a stack.
Cash very up and down yesterday. Losta buyin to a complete noddy early on with AK v KK. Sick xKA flop on that one. Said noddy then kept going on about my bets and that I was set mining..lol wtf u cunt. Started randon overbetting/shoving on him, and he left. Had a mad session where JJ was the only pair in like 100+ hands. Every hand like suited connectors just missed the flop constantly, all C-bets got raised etc. Last 30 mins table was full of nits, stealing blinds a lot just wasn't cutting it so gave it up.

Have regged for the abso donkfest that is pokerstars world record tourney on Sunday 4th Dec. A dollar buyin with $50k for first..lol
Also want to play the ipops main. This is $135 $500k guaranteed. Needs 4k players to make the Guarantee, not got close to 2k regged yet. The satellites are fucking redic too. Been working nights and nothing in the night to play. looked this evening(Fri) and fuck all to play in sat wise until Saturday. can't do the 100 seat megasat as working Sat night.
No surprise that once again they have fucked up their Guarantees.

Vegas

2011-11-07T13:14:00.003Z

Returned from Vegas on Friday, spent 9 nights there with the family. his consisted of myself, the mrs, my 4 year old son and my mother in law.
Stayed at the Excalibur. The second time I have stayed here. Fair to say I only stay here as the have the 'Dungeon' that contains arcades and games for my son to play. It's either this or Circuscircus, and we all know that Circus is an utter shithole of a hotel.
Saying that, the only alterations/upgrades that Excalibur have done is change the tvs to widescreen flatscreens. The rooms are old and desperately need remodelling, and the windows open slightly, which make em fucking useless to blocking out the noise from the strip. Room did have a good view of the strip though, and the airport, ideal for my son.

Got long-hauled by the taxi driver, who took I-15 instead of Tropicana. Mind you shoulda seen the look on his face when I told him i knew what he was upto, and I wasn't a 'Vegas virgin'. Didn't utter a word when I told him he was only getting paid what the trip was worth and not what was on his meter.
I was fucking primed for an argument too, after spending 90 minutes with a 4 year old cueing at immigration. Previous visits have always resulted in getting moved to the front. They did this for a family with a 1o year old but not us, the cunts.

Then had another minor argument with the check-in clerk. we had requested rooms next to each other with adjoining door between the two. This works well in the evenings as whoever stays in with little un can use the other room and still hear little one if he wakes in the night.
The retarded clerk starts saying its only a request and they have two together. I'm like get a grip, I done this before and requested and checked this was ok months ago. She then starts sprouting on about conferences and being busy, well until I tell her its a Tuesday and stop fucking about. Had to use the ' i been to Vegas before' line before she suddenly becomes more accommodating. What the fuck is it with these wankers?

Anyway onto the poker, what little there was. Safe to say i'm unlikely to go to Vegas with family again, just never get to play the schedule I want to. Ended up playing a pathetic 4 tournaments. The South end of the strip is shit for low end tournies, fuck all tournie entrants and redic rake levels.

27/10- Excalibur $40, 3k starting chips. 50/100 start doubling every 15 mins 1pm

Absolute fucking crapshoot of a tourney. By the third level ave is like 9BBs. "0 runners and 4 paying for this one. An absolute limp fest the whole tournament. Also the type of limpers that would then call any raise!!
Treaded water for most of tourney, then used position to steal blinds with hands such as 82o. Got an ok stack when stole again with J9 and got called by 67...lol
Then raised button with QJ, small blind called having just rebought after getting knocked out with the 67, so did the big with Q9. Happy days on JJx flop. Turn and river made a flush for A5 man though. Then lost when pushed A9s and a limper decided that K10 off was a perfect hand to call with and got duly obliged on the turn which bought a 10.
Still the same dealers who are retirees and can barely see, let alone count. They could not work out all in pots/side pots, and kept forgetting if they had moved the button or not!!!!

29/10- Tropicana $40, 4k chips 25/50, 15 minute blinds 2pm

This got 10 players with 2 rebuys. Good fun table, guy from Liverpool talked a fair bit of footie with him. Had a talkative but friendly Aussie on table. He was the only player that could play, good bet sizing and never limped.
Played it fairly tight, especially after reraising with AK and getting outflopped by KJ. Flopped a set with 44 after raising pre and got paid off by top pair.
No other hands of note, just won enough pots to get to final 3 and the pay outs. Ended up finishing 2nd to the Aussie guy for $90. Gave $5 to the dealers as the were friendly. Fucking redic rake in Tropicana though, works out almost 40%.

31/10- Stratosphere $65 (45+20)8k chips(4+4) 25/50 start, 20 mins blinds 11am

Was always going to play a tourney here at some point. As avid readers of blog will know, I have stayed there before and the tournies are getting good numbers now they have the Sahara traffic. They have changed this slightly. It used to 2k add on but with 4k now you pretty much have to take it.
This got 21 runners. the evening tourneys get around 80 at 7pm and 50 at 11pm.
First table was usual mix of locals and tourists, including one Spanish guy who couldn't speak English and kept playing out of turn. Won a decent pot in the first level with the mighty 63o. Was in the BB and got one early pos limper and the sb made up. Flop was Q6x. Checked to me I bet limper called, sb folded. A heart on turn I bet and limper calls. The river brings a third heart and I bet again, repping the flush. The limper says he puts me on the Q and folds JJ face up. I show the 63o to tilt him. This works as he plays every pot for the next round, not wanting to be bluffed. I don't pick up any hands/situations though so don't benefit.
Go to break slightly under average. On return from break get KK raise and take blinds. Next hand get QQ, raise get a call AJx flop. Guy pushed for 2k, I have about 10k and call, he could easily have the J bit had AJ! Very next hand get 33, raise and get the blinds. Fourth hand get QQ, get a full double up when a guy with A7 calls my raises to river after an 887 flop, 8 turn. This puts me chippie on my table. steal blinds a couple of times, getting told my raises are bullshit from player on my left. Just told him I kept on getting KK...lol
One young player kept limping, then betting big when an ace hit the board. Set him up with KK, called his raise then checked a K high flop. Ace on turn and let him do the betting, sweet.
Went to final table and two stacks came over from the other table. was told by one of the players that one particular guy was a decent player. Pretty much only get this info as had been friendly with him the previous hour, talking about American football a fair bit. I took out 3 players on the final table. Always from postion and raising with hands. Flops hit me good though. Got down to 4 with 3 paying and we agree a saver for 4th. we all had good chips. Play another couple of levels with mainly chip passing, waiting for a cold deck. I only had my tourny life on the line once. Was in BB with 34, decent player with stack in sb made up. He had been stealing my blinds abit in previous round. flop was 764. He made a bet and I pushed. He thought about it but folded, showing a 4. We chopped it shortly after 4 ways for $220 each. Blinds were about to go up and we had around 10BB each. Guy later said he had a Q. He was the only one i was trying that on though, as the other two would of called. Gave the dealers $10.

1/11 Tropicana $40, 4k chips 25/50 15 min blinds 2pm.

23 players in this one. Finished in 11th. Had no hands all tourney. Was just stealing every now and again to maintain. went out when I got 66 and got my push called by K9o which caught a 9. Could do fuck all, no complaints after catching cards in previous tourney.

After buy ins and tips to dealers I finished $100 up. So another profit on live poker in Vegas, even at the ridic rake levels, usually around 33%.
So annoyed that I couldn't play the evening tourneys or the $100-$150 buy in range.
Future trips will be non family and poker focussed. The play is as bad as it ever is in vegas at lower levels. The locals still play too tight, and loads of players limp. Just gotta be a little patient and avoid running slim lines and bluffs against the stations.

On the sightseeing front it was awesome to be in Vegas during Halloween. My son dressed up and loved going round Town square getting 'candy' from all the shops.
He also loved circuscircus midway games and circus acts. whilst i would never stay in the Hotel the midway games are very good and much cheaper than the Excalibur dungeon. He won on loads of games and is the proud owner of several smurfs

Plenty of training, no poker...

2011-09-27T01:43:00.003+01:00

Title says everything. Most evenings when I haven't been working lates I have been to the gym. This completely fucks the poker as I miss all the evening tournies.
Training has been going well. Running a few miles now, as well as doing other cardio and weights during the sessions. Weight not moved anywhere though. Eating too much crap at the weekend, again.
Four weeks till I go to Vegas so gonna hit the gym, and the clean eating, hard.
As for the dollar rate at the mo just 'WTF'. Went down 11c in just under 2 weeks. Fkn redic. Hoping it climbs back up before I go.

Talking of redic, I order most stuff online and have used a site called sendit.com a couple of times to buy books. Anyway they are always sending emails about their DVD sales, so I take a look and pick a few out. Get to check out and they wanted £1.99 delivery for every DVD. Fucking cheeky cunts. Costs me almost half that to post one, so will cost them hardly anything to send a bundle at the same time.

I have been fucking redic tired the last few weeks. really struggling to get up in the mornings, and falling asleep around 6pm. Think it's probably to do with training a lot but not getting the sleep I need. I have such a fucked up sleep routine. I really am a night person. At least i'm back on nights at work when I get back from Vegas.

New weigh in

2011-09-14T01:09:00.003+01:00

Following a terrible weekend of eating crap, with a saver of a decent workout at the gym Sunday night, I weighed myself Monday. 15st 9lb is the current total.
Legs are killing me though. Not surprising as I caned the leg press maching and run a couple of miles. The weights felt ok though, which was good. Even if I did feel like puking towards the end of the session..lol
Not played any poker, bar a couple of freerolls..lol. Finally got my RB, though my affiliate is obvo pissed at my lack of volume, but so is my bank account!!!

Hoping to get some volume in this week, then have a couple of decent sessions at the weekend. Back to the gym tomorrow, hopefully the legs will feel ok by then

Weigh-in and injuries

2011-09-05T23:13:00.004+01:00

Weighed myself at work and was 15-10 today, was 16-0 a week ago. Have paid my gym membership for another year. Past few days I have somehow fucked my left foot. Can barely weight-bare. Constant dull pain. So basically no running till that sorts itself out..ffs. Only 7 week still I go to Vegas, wanted to be hitting it fkn hard now.
Have played fuck all poker since last post, bar a couple of freerolls,where I made another final! Shame I run so shit when I pay to enter..lol
Am due a tiny RB payment this month, though surprised I not been paid it yet. If not paid in the next couple of days then a new site beckons. The money is literally fuck all, but its the principle.
Not sure how much poker i'll be playing this month. Looking to get some extra hours in at work for Vegas, and cane the gym. Time as always will tell.

Withdrawal

2011-08-24T21:11:00.002+01:00

Can't auto ban so have withdrawn my ipoker balance. I'm too tilted to play there anymore.
Played a couple more mtts, QQ
Now, I don't think the sites are rigged, I'm just too fucked off to play there. However i'm not surprised that people complain the games are rigged. Particularly when players make such ridiculous calls. You can understand it if they are playing any old shit, but when they dont play a hand for 3 rounds then make a shit call on the flop, to catch the turn, it does make you wonder.

So, where to go from here. All the US sites, bar stars, as dodgy as fuck, so your money probably safer gambling on the wheel. Will likely play stars, and a new boss site with RB as I haven't got RB on mine.

hmmm where's the auto-ban button???

2011-08-23T22:07:00.002+01:00

These sites all have casino games attached to them, to get their rewards when your tilting. However you can ban yourself from them. Well I need banning from paid for MTTs on ipoker!!!
Last night I posted how I was giving up on ipoker mtts. I regged for one of these cash for points things to use em up. As is standard I shipped this. Didn't play any different just didn't get fucked over on flops. Then took total control with 6 left, knocking out the other five players.
So, after this regged for a couple of tournies. First way had my standard exit, in the first level too. QQ into 99 looked good until the 9 straight out the door,sigh.

In the evening tournies had AK
So, no more mtts on ipoker.

Sick

2011-08-23T01:28:00.002+01:00

Played a stack of MTTs todays and got fucked constantly. This was of course on ipoker. Think i'm giving up with mtts on there. Been fucking ridiculous for the past year on there, and certainly since I started playing on pokerencore.
I'm not a susperstitious person but it's just fucking ridiculous. Tonight I got busted in every single tourney by players catching a 3 outer on the river. The only exception being the last tourney, where I ran 99 into a serial raisers AA. Obviously I don't catch.
Think I will go back to stars. Maybe mix a few 180 manners in with their low stakes mtts.

Why the small ones???

2011-08-21T00:18:00.003+01:00

Played the $5K VIP freeroll on ipoker this evening. Only 130 runners with $1350 up top. that'll do nicely. Had about 50 sit outs too so only needed to outlast 80 in effect.
Sick first hand, though not involving me. Button KK, SB QQ, BB AA. The aces held and a sick 1st pot.
I played pretty good and was up a little, when one of the sitouts sat down and playing most pots. Had 99 on button, he min-raised and I pushed. He auto-called with 66 and obvo the first fucking card out was the 6. That left me short and pushed my last k in but got outflopped, standard. looked at the 66 guy who no surprise was from Estonia. What is it on ipoker with all these cunts playing shit and getting rewarded. You obvo want the calls but not the ass fucking that I been getting.
At this point i'm on the verge on deleting all my ipoker accounts, i'm steaming that much.
I was, however, still left in a freeroll of sorts. You get points everytime you play on ipoker and pokerencore are doing these freerolls called cash4points. You can't do fuck all else with the points so entered this one whilst playing the VIP jobbie.
Only 38 runners, top 8 paid. Only a $100 prizepool.
As i have seen a LOT of lately. There was one player who had a big stack, which he got limp/calling anything pre and that getting smacked in the face by the flop. Obvo i'm steaming so get into some 'debate'. Yep I know, i'm a cunt for doing so but anyways...
He starts paying people off and I take two bigish pots off him, knocking him out. I'm always average till the final table which I make 8/10 and under average. Just sat tight as had the three big stacks to my left. Got down to 4 players and the two big stacks collide.
When down to three stacks were approx Me 7k, no2 14k, no1 37k.
At this point it's full on aggression, shoving most hands. Take out 2nd and heads up blinds are approx me 20k, him 38k. I just raise every hand and soon have the chip lead.
After folding everything he calls a push with 44 v my JQs. I have open ended and overs after turn but dont get there. Again I just raise everything and once level get it in with KQ v 77. This time I win the race for my micro win of $32...lol Always the fucking small ones.
Played the last 15 mins heads up in the dark as the trip switch went when the lightbulb blew...lol
The win has placated me a little but still pissed at how shitty I been running this week.
That pretty much leaves stars, for tournies but the get fucking thousands for their small stakes tournies. Sooo much varience.
Weigh in Monday, will be two weeks since I started back on it. I was 5lb to the good last week but then had a couple of days away. Did get on the bike tonight but fuck me the legs/knees felt tight.

What a ballsheet day

2011-08-19T22:41:00.002+01:00

Had an absolute ass raping on the poker tables today.
Have lost every fucking time I have had Aces. Worst two being AA<22 when the cunt flopped Quads, and AAEvery table I was on today had one fucking idiot playing every single hand, so matter the action, and slamming the flop every fucking time. Even worse was seeing so other retard oppo calling off repeatedly with 4th pair, or worse.
Every push on the button/cutoff I ran into premiums, and usually AA. Obvo didn't catch in any of em, fucking sick.
Was gonna play most of night but so fucked off have cut the session short.

Pokertableratings - Does ANYONE find their database accurate?

2011-08-19T16:09:00.002+01:00

When i started playing cash, a couple months back I signed up to pokertableratings as a guest. This basically allows me 10 free searches a day. May as well be one search as I only use it to track my results.
Why?, well quite simply I don't have Holdemmanager or Poker Tracker.
Though to say they are inaccurate is an understatement. It I played higher it would good for me as it states my BB/100 is a fair bit lower than it is. However at the stakes I play I doubt anybody looks me up anyway.
Most strange is that it lists me as playing sessions at times I wasn't even playing..like wtf?

Then they bombard me with offers to sign up to their premium service. Now why the fuck would I want to pay a fee for such poor service!!!!!

I hate mtts on ipoker

2011-08-17T21:57:00.003+01:00

Day off work and rest of family off to Chessington so decided to play poker all day. What a fucking frustrating waste of time that was.
Got fucked all day long by retarded cunts who think limp calling any raise from utg with hands like 107o is a good ploy!!!
Basically regged low buyins and got fucked constantly. Including Kk v AA,1010, AK for the world in one.
Only cashed in 1 tourney, a fucking $1 thing. Got fucked with 12 left when some cunt thought calling my shove with Q5 off was a brilliant idea. Then got my last 10k in with KJs and run into AJ. Sure loved the KJA flop. Needed to final to get out for the day. Also played a stack of DoNs, got fucked in half of them too.
Was a little up on the cash but only played a micro sample. Think I might stick to that on ipoker as basically never run well on the mtts there.

Played on stars and as usual cashed in all the 50fiftys I played. Perhaps I should just play them all day as they are soo soft.
Funny as fuck how all these retards at the micros have their little stars on their avatar...lol Even worse this month as with stars promo it not too difficult to get platinum.

The weigh in

2011-08-12T22:17:00.002+01:00

Weighed myself at work on Monday and topped the scales at 16 stones!!!!
Have just spent a quick couple of days in the New Forest, so gonna get on with the training tomorrow.
Actually did a fair bit of walking in the forest, though the pub meal and couple of pints obv didn't help.
Just received a new batch of protein I ordered. came with a decent discount as not ordered for a while. No surprise there seeing as I haven't done fuck all on the exercise front since returning from Vegas 3 months ago.
I go back there in just under 11 weeks time. Aiming to lose a minimum of two stone before I go.
Was working a lot before I went so played hardly any poker, and no grinding the past week. Been suck a lazy fecker on the poker front.

AK is the new QQ

2011-08-05T21:32:00.003+01:00

Had a very small session this afternoon, as much as anything to sort/practice my set up with the monitor.
First thing is that it is fucking difficult using an expansion monitor with a mousepad. Particularly when time out boxes, table changes etc are all on the lappie screen whilst the tables are on the monitor. The ipoker software doesn't help either, it's useless for lighting up or flashing the most immediate table, they all just fucking beep..lol. Solved that one by getting a cheap standard mouse. Works fine.
The next thing was getting used to having so many tables on the go, and playing so many different games. Was playing DoNs, MTTs and cash at the same time. Only being able to get 9 tables and not 12 on the monitor is a pain in the ass, as I would like at least 4 of DoNs and cash, and these would be easier to separate with 4x3 but hey ho.
MTTs ran fucking awful, just like I always seem to on ipoker. Got knocked out everytime with AK, up against QQ, 99, JJ. Each time hitting the flop then getting 2 outered on the turn. Can't remember the last time I cashed an MTT on ipoker, sigh.
The DoNs went well, cashing 75% of the time.
Cash finished up slightly overall. Was slightly down in first session, but was up in second session. That was the first table I have finished down at cash in a while. I have got a fairly ok handle of how these micro cash tables play. Gotta be tighter in some spots and looser in others. Have to play your big hands very strong, building pots pre. Also have to know when to slow the fuck down. The rake is also a hit for any pots that are not tiny.Something like 7% of the pots going in rake, at times.
Played a little on stars, and still winning on the fifty50s. Though had a couple of redic beats which meant I only just cashed rather than getting a decent part of the chip value.
Getting a stack in these is what makes em pay. People obv play tight around the bubble and the blinds are too big not to try and take advantage.
Hoping to put in some decent table time at the weekend.

Will also weigh myself at the weekend and see how much I want to lose before Vegas in October. Have turned into a proper fat fucker the last 3 months..lol

Time to grind

2011-08-03T17:41:00.002+01:00

Played very little over past two weeks. Had plenty to do round the house and also procrastinating plenty too, basically being a lazy fucker. Need to pay for a few things round the house so need to grind like fuck in August.
It also looks like my lappie graphics card is too shite for my monitor. It's an integrated thing too soo cant really upgrade it.
So plan for the month is to grind some cash and DoNs on pokerencore, whilst also playing fifty50s and 45/180 manners on stars. Will also play a few mtts and satellites to live events.

Trying to get back to it

2011-07-25T23:44:00.002+01:00

Apart from a couple of small sessions a while back I haven't played for a while. I am sooo shite at grinding...lol probs why I have a normal fulltime job.
The good news is that I have finally ordered, and received, my new monitor. Went for the 23 inch HannsG LED full HD 1080. Tried it out last night. Clarity of the screen is awesome, though not the highest consideration for playing poker on it.
Set is as an expansion to my lappie. Having a few probs though as it wont use the full screen in the highest resolutions. Keeps cutting off the end of the screen so can only 9 table without overlap and not 12 table.
It may have something to do with my lappie being the 15.4 style and only having an integrated graphics card. Fucked if I know, need someone to take a look who does.

Was hoping to play this evening but got in to find the TV, SKY etc off and the trip switch up. Put it back on and of course the fucking SKY box is playing up as per usual. They really do use the shittest pieces of hardware Sky. Anyway 30 mins later hear a loud bang and the electrics go off again. Don't know if it's the socket blown or the extension with the built in surge protector. That rattles like fuck now so something fucked inside.
Went and got a new surge protected extension and used another socket. The electrical stuff is okay but my SKY+ is fucked. Obviously have to do a full system reset and lose all my saved programmes, planners, series link and all that shit. The little un will be pissed when he finds out all his kiddie programmes and films have been lost. Cheers SKY. Gotta get a sparkie to come and find out whats wrong. Another bill, sigh.

So, the family are out tomorrow arvie, so hope to use that time to set up new monitor properly. Will need to remove PC and monitor from computer desk, dust/clean desk(WTF???)etc. Lets hope I actually get round to it, mrs tells me tonight we need to put stuff in loft tomorrow, which will obv mean me sorting it out..lol.

If anyone has any ideas obout getting the full use of the monitor screen, post em in the comments, cheers in advance.

I'm retiring queens

2011-07-14T03:54:00.002+01:00

Following on from yesterdays butt fucking when I had queens, I had a corker of retarded play shoved up my ass tonight. Playing a 45 manner on stars and down to around 1300. Five limpers so I shove with QQ. Get three callers with in order Q9, A4 and 107. Of course the retard of a spaniard with the 107 backdoors a straight. That pot would of put me 2nd, double that of third, and down to 2 tables. Can't remember the last time I won a hand with queens, just getting fucked full stop with em at the mo.

Meh

2011-07-13T08:24:00.002+01:00

Grinded cash for a while on my lappie at work and got fucked constantly. Lost 4 times with QQ. 3 times was a player catching their A or K on the flop, the 4th was a guy hitting a set. Worst was losing a bit pot with 89dd. Flop was 9 10 J with a diamond, bet and called. Turn a 4d, so I have open ended straight draw, flush draw and the paired 9. Get called by AKo, no diamonds. He obvo catches one of his 2 kings on the river. Fuck knows how he calls there, after I pushed, just meh for him catching. Got stacked on that, but cashed slightly up on the others. One was pretty good as lost most my buyin and had to top up, patience finally got me some hands on that table, and finished in profit.

Then played a couple of fifty50 over at Stars. Sitting 2nd with 7 left in first when I run AQss into chippies AK, sigh.
Was one of them nights ..lol

Russians

2011-07-12T04:49:00.001+01:00

Why are they so fucking retarded yet always seem to get there when they make such shitty plays...
Rant over

Running okay on Stars

2011-07-11T01:45:00.003+01:00

Been playing a few games on stars, either 45 manners or the fifty50s. Been getting deep in pretty much all the 45manners. Was playing a couple on my break at work and my dongle lost signal. Was slightly below average in both with something like 12 left in one at 14 left in the other. Check when I get home and bubbled one in 8th and cashed the other in 5th. Shows how soft these can be!!!

On the fifty50 front I been cashing pretty much all the games. Think they are softer than the DoNs were on stars. Maybe they're just less corrupt...lol
The last one I played I got aces and kings and paid off both times by flush chasers. The players just don't seem to understand the the to survive in these.

My affiliate got back to me and all appears well. Just need to redeposit and grind like shit. Back on days middle of the months so will be able to play the evening mtts when not working late. Think the low buyins are very soft, literally just need to avoid the beats.

Since getting back from Vegas at start of May I haven't been to the gym. Gonna restart next week. Am the most unfit/unhealthy I have been in over a year. Looking to do a half marathon at the end of September...gulp

On the move?

2011-07-08T04:26:00.003+01:00

Looks like I may have to find another ipoker site as my affiliate at pokerencore, hasn't responded to a simple email sent three days ago.
Last month I played a little bit of micro cash whilst on my breaks whilst working nights. I had a query reagrding the points you get and how much the equate to rake. Used online support, which I think is ipoker generic, in the end. Found out that that the points are only about a third of rake when comparing the points earned for tourny buyins. Was a little surprised as you raked to fuck at the micros for any sort of sized pot. I'm usually more active than the other players too, so should be contibuting more.
As a result I didn't play on ipoker at all at the weekend when off. Just played a little on stars.
Kinda pissed me off a bit as looking forward to getting some decent volume in.
So, annybody that have a rakeback/loyalty rate for an ipoker skin let me know.
Will be ordering a hanns g monitor this weekend, ready for some grindage!!!

Holiday in the New Forest

2011-06-29T22:48:00.002+01:00

Am currently on holiday in the New Forest with the other half and my 4 year old son. Thought that I would get some table time at night, but I have been sleeping like a baby.
When working, if I get more than 5 hours sleep i've had a good night.
Here it's been redic. Fell asleep at 9pm the first night here, 10pm the next 3 nights, such a lightweight..lol.
The little one loves it. We have hired a cottage right in the forest. Horses and cows walk past the gate every day. They are always up for a photo op...lol

Took him to Paultons Park on Monday. They have recently opened the first 'Peppa pig' world with rides galore for pre-schoolers. Any players out there with young kids I highly recommend it.

Went crap fishing today off Lymington Quayside, armed with a crab line and a pack of smoked bacon. Managed to stab myself with the hook untangling the bloody thing!! Caught crabs very quickly, though trying to keep 'em on the line will lifting them out of the water was a tricky.
Mrs was having a go when the line started pulling, she thinks she caught an atlantic crap! hands it over to me and reel it up to find a three foot eel on the end of the line. It was thrashing like a good un too. Eventually the weight of it broke the hook off. Caught a couple more crab but with the hook missing it was easy for the fish to grab the meat. Need to get a new hook, and use a fishing net, for next time.

Like everyone else, I have a bit of money on Tilt that looks gone. Only $50, but prob a decent amount of my current tiny online wedge!!

Clawing it back

2011-06-23T08:54:00.002+01:00

Cash is starting to go a little better, actually booking a couple of winning sessions. Still playing small sessions whilst on my break. Actually caught a couple of flops for a change. Still playing a bit loose for the micros though. Made a couple of calls that I was pretty sure I was behind, and was.
Pokertable ratings is pretty good, but misses hands now and again. Good in a way as they have me as having lost a few more buyins than I had. The oppo thing on there is pretty good, though until I have enough hands it just shows the short term varience of a few large pots.
Been playing a couple of the 45/90 manners on stars. A couple of finals and a few bubbles, been a little frustrating. Also been playing the odd fifty50. Personally I much preferred the DoNs, but these have been going okay. Gotta run good at times though to get a decent return from them.
Looking at a few monitors and will probs get something like a 23" hannsg in the near future, then start to cane the tables.
Have put a pokerencore banner on the blog. I have to say that the customer service provided by Karl has been first class, the best i've ever experienced from a poker/gambling site. They also offer cashin/cashout at Uk casinos, if thats your thing.

Over at Barry Carters blog, he was offering the book he has written with Jared Tendler - The Mental Game of Poker, for a very good price. More awesome customer service from Mr Carter. I send him a payment Monday night and had the book Wednesday morning!!
Will put a review on here when I have read it.

I'm a cash fish....on ipoker

2011-06-18T08:09:00.002+01:00

Another losing session playing micro cash on ipoker. Think i'm too loose for the games, which says it all when i'm very much a tag. The players always seem to have the nuts when I play a hand against em. Prob not played enough hands to determine it yet but it feels like i'm getting shit hands all the time. Still not catching with the drawing hands. Twice had suited rags in the blinds that flopped a flush. One hand ran into a bigger flopped flush, the other got 4 flushed on the river.
One encouraging sign was seeing players getting stacked when they had AA. The just couldn't let go of it when oppos were pushing on very wet boards. Still, I need to hit a flop first...lol
While pokerencore is going shit, i'm winning at cash on every other site I play. Also been doing okay on the 45 manners on stars. I have a good cash ratio on them and continue to do so.
Have the weekend off and have the house to myself today. Looking to play a fair few tournies and try and bink a comma.

Coolers and missed draws

2011-06-13T22:28:00.003+01:00

I thought that STTs were bad for getting fucked over but cash has been fucking awful on ipoker. I'm sure i've got a doomswitch on my rakeback account.
played this evening and ran KK into AA twice. Had AKs 4 times, AQs suited twice, AJs and all missed flops completely. Most of em saw flops like HHH when I had the clubs etc.
Lost another buyin when KJss was not good against AA when the money went in on a 8s9h10sJd board. It was very obvious the guy had either KK or AA and obvo didn't give it a single thought that he may be behind. Played tightish too, just shows that at these micro levels no ones gives a fuck about what their oppo might have. You can get paid when you hit but fucking hell, not hitting many flops at all.

Slight progression

2011-06-11T20:42:00.002+01:00

played another short session last night on break at work. Only 4 tabling ipoker, not much running at 4 am!
Finished up on 3 and only down on one where guy hit his 7 outs on the river to get his nut flush over my flush.
Played tighter than I had been, also helped that some hands actually connected with the flop.Need to work on my bet sizing though to maximise return on my hands.
Have just registered with pokertableratings. So much info available re hands, oppo etc. Need to take some time to get the most out of it.

Started playing cash

2011-06-10T16:54:00.003+01:00

Have recently restarted playing poker again. As i'm working nights i'm pretty much screwed for mtts so have been playinga bit of cash on my breaks/quiet periods. Only been playing at the micro levels, for two reasons. First being that I could called away at any time, got stung by this before with a dozen or so multi table sit n gos running. Secondly, I have sod all online after i withdrew most for Vegas in April. As i'm going again in October i'm keeping that roll in Dollars.
Been playimg mostly on ipoker via a rakeback deal.
The micros on there have the biggest fucking nits i've ever played against. I'm a nit myself, or so I thought, but i'm usually the most active player at the tables. Mixed bag so far, spewed too many the first night adjusting and been grinding since. So far the laggy style not been too productive, just not catching flops with the sorts of hands that can stack oppos. Also been coolered a few times i.e. pair over pair, rivered flushes etc. Also lost most times I had AK suited. Keep running into AA, KK etc sigh.
Really need to put some proper study into cash if i'm play it properly. Used to play a bit of 50/1 and 1/2 back in the heyday and held my own, though obvo very different game now. Think these micro stakes you need massive volume and incred nitness.
I'm loave to put holdem manager on my lappie as it pretty much fucked my PC when I put it on there!

Have looked at a couple of the staking sites. Don't really need the staking but most come with coaching/software etc which would certainly cut down the curve.

Vegas review

2011-05-08T20:50:00.004+01:00

As all my avid readers will know, I went to Vegas at the end of April for one week with a mate from work. We flew direct with Virgin from Gatwick. The airport is a state at the moment, due to them refurbing 'the village'.
This meant going straight through security to duty free to get a breakfast. Busy as fuck in there as obviously it is not designed to have sooo many people in at the same time.
Flight landed 30 mins earlier which was good. Not so good was my mobile not working. Cheers Vodafone you absolute cunts! This was after them telling me my fone would work fine. It wouldn't let me send texts or make calls.
Stayed at the Stratosphere. Yeah i know it's at the end of the strip, but it's cheap and the rooms are a lot better than those mid strip which cost a fair bit more.
Stayed on the top floor in one of their remodelled select rooms. pretty decent room and decent view.
The last time I stayed there the poker was fucking awful. 20 runners in an abso crapshoot of a tourney. I actually played the Sahara tournies when looking for cheapie buyins as they were far better run, though in a shithole of a room.
Anyhow, I venture past the room in the evening and its packed. A look at the tourney screen states that there are 70 odd runners. I make enquiries and the poker manager states that they have moved the Sahara tournies and staff over to the Strat.
The schedule is 11am, 7pm, 11pm. The buyin is a very modest $45 with an optional top up of $20. You get 4500 chips and the topup is worth 4000 chips.
I play 6 tournies there. 2 in the morning, 3 in the evening and 1 for the 11pm.
In the first I lose 25% of my chips first hand when my draw doesn't get there. 2 more draws don't get there and I top up. The only time I use the top up.
I'm not a fan of the topup in these low buyins, and have never cashed when I have used them. This continued in this tourney. Stations were everywhere, calling everything, so you had to catch flops. I never did catch in this and was always short. TBH I played the short stack well but eventually pushed a button shove with Q3into the BBs pocket ladies. Got a few looks, which is always a good sign. These are soo soft that players can't understand why i'm shoving with such a hand with like 6BB...lol.
The second morning tourney I make the FT but finish 9th. My pockets 10s no good for KJo.
The morning tournies get about 30 runners.
I then play the evening tourney, which gets a 100 runners. Pays out top 9 with %1300 up top. Not too shabby for a $45 donkathong.
Have a steady first hour. Taking my 4500 upto 16000 at first break. No need to take the top up.
Completely card/situ dead the second hour and end up with about 11k. Hand a table change just before second break. I get back and get K9 on the button and take the blinds. The BB chirps that the previous occupant of my seat was doing that a lot and that he is calling next time I raise his BB no matter what he has...sweet. I thank him in advance for my now expected double up..lol
I knock out a short stack when he min raises all in when i'm BB and I make the obvo call blind. My J5cc get a flush and beat his AQ. He huffs a bit so I tell him thats what he gets for waiting till he has 2BB before shoving!!!!
I then get AK and take out BB man, who calls with some crap and doesn't hit. Few hands later I get AK again and take out another shortie. Then get AK again and catch v a small pocket pair. This puts me on about 50k. Then get AK again but lose a very small pot to 99.
Table breaks and get moved again. Nothing much happens and my stack is starting to dwindle. Get A10 in mid position and push about 40k. As I been folding a while this should get some respect. Some guy tanks for several minutes. I put him on either a midpair or similar Ace to myself.
He eventually calls and tables QQ. I'm like WTF, the slowrolling cunt. The flop however brings an Ace and I double up. Then steal a couple of times and move to final table with around 90-95k.
Get KK first hand a take out two players, who were both short. One had AK, the other had QQ!!!
Flop is JJQ. Just as i'm looking at becoming the shortie the case K comes on the turn...lol
Lose 2 more then a deal is proposed 6 way for $654 each. This is just under the 2nd place money and i'm happy to deal. I had an average stack and was a good deal.
I abso bombed in the last 3 tournies. always getting it in good and never getting there.
The last tourney was comical. No fucker could play the game. It was all limp, limp, limp, limp. Any raise was followed with call, call, call, call.
Had QQ beat by K10 early. Then lost A7s to K10, then 77 to J8 lol

After cashing on the Friday I got abso smashed on Vodka and spent all day hungover. That fucked up plans to play the Binions deepstack on the Saturday.
That is a $120 buyin and 15000 starting stack. I planned to just steal constantly whilst the old buys waited for premiums. But alas I never made it down. Was gonna play tournies/cash Saturday evening, when I cut my lip shaving. It sure didn't take 3 hours to stop bleeding..ffs
Managed to get a couple of gym sessions in, including 5 mile runs each time.
On the last night we played the big 6 wheel. It has terrible odds but there is a dealer at the strat called peter who is absolute comedy gold. It's worth losing at the wheel just for the craic. Everytime the dealers were changed everybody left the table until Peter returned. I actually finished about $15 dollars up after 3 hours...lol
Due to winning a bit I brought over a grand back with me. Will go towards my next Vegas trip with the family in October.
Got a taxi back to the airport and the driver asks if i want to go up the strip to the airport or via the I15..lol the cheeky cunt. I tell her that via Paradise will be just fine, a look of dejection comes over her face and she never utters a word on the ride to the airport.

Vegas trip nearly cancelled

2011-04-23T23:14:00.004+01:00

Today I had a day off and was meant to be spending the morning getting hair cut, buying clothes and shit for holiday etc etc. That is, until I walked downstairs to find my kitchen ceiling had fallen through. Plaster fucking everywhere and water dripping out.
Knew it was either the bath leaking or a burst pipe. It was only a couple of months ago that had the bathroom done.
Instant thought was that Vegas was off. I mean how the fuck can I leave the mrs with that when we have a 4 year old, and second huch much is this gonna cost? especially on a bank holiday weekend With no real cashflow I thought GG Dollars.
The mrs got on to her old man, who used to work in the trades and he came and took a look. He ripped the newly laid lino in the bathroom and GG'd that, sigh. Found that two different pipes were leaking. Luckily he fixed em for the cost of the pipes etc.

Got to let the ceiling dry, before getting that redone. The rest will have to be ripped out and the electrics checked before using the light in the kitchen, but this can be sorted when I get back.

Best fucking bink a couple of tournies in Vegas.
I am working tomorrow, but all the shops will be shut as Easter anyway. That leaves monday, a bank holiday, to get everything ffs...lol

Vegas next week

2011-04-21T10:53:00.004+01:00

Only 5 days until I go to Vegas for a week. Got plenty to sort out before then, including a shedload of paperwork at work. Pain in the ass all these bank holidays. Obviously all shops close on Easter Sunday, and with bank hols Friday and Monday it leaves me Saturday ffs. I can't think of a worse time to have to go into town then on a Saturday.
Have not played online for over 2 months, been busy putting hours in at work and the gym. That leaves me either too tired or thinking ' I can't be fucked to play for hours'. Really need to play some over the weekend to get some practice in..lol
Have pretty much fuck all in my accounts now. Purged them for spending money as have so many fucking bills in the next month. As well as the Vegas trip in October, I have the balance to pay for a cottage for New Forest to pay. Then have annual bills from this time of year such as TV licence, professional registration fees, water bills etc etc.
Have around $50 each on stars and tilt!!
Though tilt is ran so shit that who knows where the fuck that money will end up after the DoJ finish with their shit.
Have had loads of emails this past week from all my old and existing accounts offering bonuses and rakeback.
Whilst in Vegas I will note current tourney buyins for most casinos and times tournies are running. If anyone wants me to look up a particular casinos schedule then leave a comment.

Do I still play poker?

2011-04-07T10:21:00.002+01:00

This is what I get asked by friends every so often, and right now the answer would be no!!
I haven't played for six weeks. Real life gets in the way too much. Have been putting in the hours at work, including days off. Also been getting some workouts in.
Have managed to lose a stone, but will not get close to the 2 stone I wanted to lose before Vegas.
Speaking of Vegas, it is less than 3 weeks until I go. Looking like I will have to purge my online accounts for spending money, as the bills have totted up this month.
Mainly accounted for by the holiday in Vegas that I have booked for October for the family. I also have a cottage in the New Forest to pay for the end of this month.
Guess I should get online and bink a comma...lol

Aims for March

2011-03-01T04:24:00.002Z

Pretty simple really, play some poker, win some money.
How hard can it be?? Fkn near on impossible if I have the same volume as February. Been a nightmare of a month with builders, weddings other RL stuff. Have been working nights for past 3 months, but that ends tonight. Hopefully be able to put some time into mtts and bink a score. Don't think i'll ever get the time to grind STTs to the degree you need to make money. Family life just gets in the way too much.

8 weeks till I go to Vegas. Plan to hit the gym hard until I go. Looking to lose up to 2 stone before I go, then promptly put it back on in a week whilst i'm there...lol

Mtts

2011-02-11T02:25:00.002Z

Played a few mtts tonight. Finished up slightly ahead on the night. Been playing a few of these low buyin mass runner mtts of stars. I usually buy in after about half an hour, already loads knocked out. One tonight had a near 3k first prize, I sure got close.
Saw 3 pairs in 3 hours. Got a double up in first hour with jacks. Then iso'd an all in with KK only for one of the blinds to wake up with AA. He was only ave stack though. Won the blind with my third and final pair the Aces. When getting short, and having 1st and 5th on my table with hundreds left, and fuck all cards spots, finally push A7 and get an insta call from K7..lol i'm like wtf. Ends up split pot with both making an 8 high straight. Then same player calls another of my pushes with K9 when I had A4. Of course the king comes on the river. Win that pot and i'm sitting comfortable for a fair while.
Sooo much value in these tournies but obvo fucking redic varience.

Very slow builder

2011-02-09T17:33:00.002Z

Been having my bathroom done, and fuck me, I must have picked the slowest builder I could have found. Been without a bath/shower for well over a week. Can't keep going round relatives for a shower so actually resorted to going to the gym this week, primarily to get a shower.
First session this year. Got a good few sets in, and didn't struggle at all. Ran 1.5 miles at the end. That was okay but my dodgy ankle was killing me so stopped. Don't want to feel completely fucked, though do ache a bit today. nothing i didn't expect.

on the poker front I somehow finished up on all accounts I played at the end of the month. Fuck knows how as I abso ran like shit during the month.
Gonna try and play more mtts this month and try a bink some scores. have been working noghts for nearly three months, which writes off mtts for much of the time. I got some days off next week so will have some evenings free to play da pokers.

Now i'm back at the gym I will be going flat out. Aim to lose 2 stone by the time I go to vegas at the end of April

still losing

2011-01-29T00:22:00.002Z

Couldn't really think of a title. Still getting fucked over in ipoker DoNs. Usual shit. Apparently that hand last time wasn't collusion, first time they had played together. Just shows how shit the players are. the old saying 'better be lucky than good' certainly works for them.
Still winning in DoNs on stars. Played their new fifty50 style DoNs. I don't like em. As a tighter player, they are just not worthwhile, even though I cashed in 'em. May as well go back to standard SnG's.
Have a played a few mtts. Same crap in the bar 1. Cashed one on tilt for a few dollars. Went out when ran into sb's AA. would have been so bad but he had got AA, KK, QQ, AK, AA all inside the same round!!!
Played a couple on stars. 88 lost on turn to AK when pushing a rag flop. Then ran QQ into AA. Only 2 pairs I saw in 2 and a half hours. Mtts feel sooo fucking pointless when that happens.

Got a stag do to go to over the weekend so no poker, thank fuck...lol

WTF???? & Collusion on ipoker

2011-01-26T14:06:00.003Z

Sigh, these DoNs are doing my fucking head in. Dropped 6 straight buyins yesterday on ipoker. Still getting beat after beat. Not sure if it's because the players are soo bad. I'm getting soo many redic calls from players that should never be calling it's unreal. Played a bit on stars last night and looked at results for this year. Whilst it's obv not maintainable, i'm running at over 80% cash rate on their DoNs this year, and not playing and different. I do wonder if because the standard of play is better there, i.e. players play tighter, as per DoN strat, that my pushes get through. Fuck knows.

Caught some certain collusion last night too on ipoker. Biggest stack on sb (3500) min raises his sb of 150 to 600, then folds when shortie bb makes it 970 total. Have reported it to ipoker but obviously fuck all will happen, sigh.

Following latest downswong, i'm practically break-even. Think its +1% roi. Other winning players, playing same proper strat, are like between 4 and 10% roi.

Profit but still running bad

2011-01-23T03:28:00.004Z

4 tabled a session of 25 games this arvie. Finished with a cash rate of 60% but still getting the short end of it late in tournies. Actually wrote down every hand I exited today. All of these are allin pre:

KJ-K7
JJ-AK
A9-Q10
A9-A8
KJ-89
Q7-J2
AA-Q5
KK-AK
A5-53
A9-KJ

Whilst not all were big favourites, and you always get some beats, the most annoying is that I got the chips in first in nearly all of them. Obvo the players are shite, but it's fucking frustrating when they keep binking after making these shit calls

Aaaarrrgggghhhhhh

2011-01-21T16:20:00.002Z

Non-poker pain this time. Had to have a molar extracted yesterday. Mouth hurts like fuck. Had to have several injections as didn't numb properly. Originally it was going to be an RCT but he couldn't do it. said the tooth was dead and was too tricky. I think he's probably a lazy cunt who isn't skilled enough to do tricky RCT, so pulled it. Took him fucking ages too. I reckon it took so long because the tooth was still operational, and pretty well set still.
Been caning the anelgesia. Had a couple of 30/500 Cocodamol left over from last time, but used them yesterday. Had to get over the counter today, which only comes in 8/500. Not much good for toothache, but best they can do. Only had soluble though, taste awful.
I've not eaten for two days either, bar ice-cream. Working nights meant I went to bed then got up for my arvie appointment. Have to let the exposed gum settle and not infect so ice cream for dinner yesterday. Got soup for my dinner tonight, great.
Days off now but can't go to gym as no exercise after tooth extration either, sigh.

Onto the pokers and still running like shit. Been reviewing my play and not done a lot wrong. Just keep running into AA.AK when i'm pushing from the SB or button. Rediculous how often the BB keeps waking up with them premiums. Haven't binked an outdraw once over past few days either. Somehow still in profit on the DoNs. Though not a lot. Plan is to cane the next couple of days as behind my schedule to level up and them earn points quicker, which earns my bonuses quicker. Wan't to move up too, but playing a min of 50 buyins so not moving up till then.

Have registered for the pokerstars bloggers tourneys which start soon. Check out the banner at the top and get registered if you haven't.

Lucky Fish

2011-01-18T17:00:00.002Z

That sums up my oppos. Been a fucking redic day, put in volume and fucking bad beats everywhere. Four times had Jacks v AK, sure won any of them races. Getting rivered by 2 outers.
Then the almost standard of pushing button/SB into BB AK,KK,AA. Fucking unbelievable.
Even worse i've got these fucking numpties calling me a fish...ffs. Soooo tempting to go tell em to have a look at sharkscope, but don't want all these fishies running away.
Was 8 tabling to start with but on a 15 inch lappie screen and ipokers shit software, I missed a few hands. They just dont pop up too well, or border change, or anything really.

Turning it around

2011-01-16T23:18:00.002Z

Have only put in a couple of small sessions since last post but have been very good sessions. Been running standard for a change, no beats suffered, and not outdrawing anyone. Just the way I like it when i'm getting it in good in these DoNs. Have been playing position very well.
Most of the players in these go broke by overplaying hands from EP. I been folding decent hands like a true nit in EP and been paying off.
Have also been writing down a few of the regulars, then scoping them later on. I just use basic info i.e. + or - ROI% and how many games played. Really all I need. Basically the + players play tighter and the - players play loose. Simples.
Have also worked out how many games I need to play per day etc to reach my targets towards my bonus. With bonus and RB i'm getting 50% back, pretty good as i'm playing low stakes and low volume.
The plan is to win enough to pay my spending money in Vegas. I go end of April!!!

Start back at the gym tomorrow. Need it, feel like a right fat fucker...lol

The run bad continues

2011-01-14T00:57:00.002Z

The sick run bad continues. Sooo fucking frustrating. Ran into the BB having aces 5 times. On bubble keep running A7, A8 into AK, AQ, AJ you get the idea. 88 into 99, 99 into 1010.
Several times i've had AQ, AK lose allin pre against A5, A7.
It's just been fucking unreal. Running at a cash rate of less than 50% this evening. Think long term, i've always run over 60% in these DoNs but not this week.
Most frustrating is I haven't caught once when i've gone in behind. Not even when the flop has left me half the pack to hit.
Would have been even worse as I accidently selected a buyin twice the size I have been playing. Fortunately I cashed in that. Currently 3 buyins down.

AARRRGGGGHHHH.....FFS

2011-01-13T07:19:00.002Z

That title sums up how it has been going. Have been bubbling tourney after tourney, especially the 6 seaters. Every fucking time I get it in good for the money, my oppos are catching 2/3 outers on the turn. When that doesn't happen, i'm getting cold decked a beauty. Lost cound of the number of times i'm on the button or SB with AQ and the BB has had either AK or AA, fucking sick.

Somehow, despite all this i'm only 1 buyin down. Sharkscope actually puts me in the positive, but I have played a couple of mtts, getting nowhere.
Really need to run to expectation, don't we all!

Want to move up, as the standard no higher, but not yet rolled for the next level. Getting to the next level will make getting the bonus much easier to clear. Will be even easier as you go up the VIP thingy as the points are earned quicker.

Got family stuff, and the butcher of an eastern european/nhs dentist this arvie. fuck knows what he's gonna do to my teeth this time! Gonna grind this evening, to get some points in the bag.

Running bad since back

2011-01-11T17:31:00.002Z

Finally deposited on pokerencore, which is an ipoker site. Only deposited yesterday and played mainly DoNs with a couple of mtts thrown in. Had nothing going in the mtts so far, never got above starting stack.
Been runnimng fucking awful in the DoNs. Been sucked out sooo many times it's a fucking joke. Pretty much always the turn to hit that 2/3 outer as well. Haven't won a pot with aces yet that has seen a flop. The worst being getting it in V QQ and a turn Q to fuck me over. Somehow i'm still only 1 buyin down.
The software is shit, far worse than it used to be. have to open the lobby just to see what the blinds are...lol
Would be so much easier if the info tab contained more than chips in play and ave chips. Really don't need it in a DoN. Stars one is better, it shows current/next blinds and what position you are. Much more useful as you use less time finding out where you are when multi-tabling.
Have a few hundred of dollars to clear as a bonues, so this is the aim, as well as running better.

Getting back on it

2011-01-07T06:47:00.002Z

I don't really do new years resolutions but, as ever, the christmas period brings a break what with family, work and illness all thrown into the mix. Illness was the usual winter manflu.
I downloaded pokerencore before xmas but haven't had any time to grind on there. Have been playing the occasional STT at work when it's quiet, whilst i'm working nights. No good for ipoker though, or any european site as there is fuck all traffic in the early hours. just been playing a little on stars/tilt.
For the new year my aim is deffo to play more poker, a lot more. Whilst I made a profit, both live and online again last year, it was my worst year for profit. This is unsurprising as it was by far my worse year for volume. Having a family defo puts a dent in the playing time. Each year my son gets older, he's now 4, I get less free time and less sleep.
The sleep is the main issue, as I try to avoid playing tired. With the little 'un I just don't get the time to catch up on my sleep. My sleep pattern has always been pretty screwed up, but used to have a day a week to catch up. this just doesn't happen.
Another sleep problem is the gym. I go through spells of hitting the gym but working shifts, partner working shifts and family life get in the way of going regularly. When I do get a good run at it I hit it pretty hard, both aerobic and anaerobic. When your young you can get away with going to the gym on fuck all sleep. Just doesn't work like that in your mid-thirties.
Saying that I want to hit the gym hard this year. Have a goal of completing a couple of half marathons. Was close to doing this last year before the blisters ravaged my feet and fucked up my training.
Xmas festivities and no training meant I put on about a stone over December so that gotta go ASAP. Will be back on it once manflu gone completely.
Blondepoker has new sponsors in skypoker, so have downloaded that a deposited some sterling. The play 6 seat tables, which is not really my thing being a total nit tag, but will play a bit to support blonde.
a friend from work, a complete degen gambler whos a complete fish plays there and loves it. He's the ideal skypoker player i.e. plays recreationally, one table at a time, loves the 'poker points' they do. Anyway, he was playing online there at work whilst i'm busy writing reports. Once done I sweat him for a bit and fuck me, the standard on there is poor. He was playing a deepstack on there 5k starting stack and 12 min blinds. He tripled up inj the first level..lol He plays bad though, calling too much and min raising when he does raise.
Got him to hold back a bit and realise just how many BB he had. Anyway with a little advice on bet sizing and 3 bet ops he gets there for the win. he then plays a couple of DYMs and tries to spew his chips before I teach him some basic strategy and he pisses 'em.
Really enjoyed sweating and giving bits of advice, far more exiting watching someone do well and some of the stuff you teaching 'em come off. My mate has zero technical poker ability, but reads oppos well. He was always pretty close on what oppos were doing in certain positions. If he can grasp the basics he can make a little money.

I'm going to Vegas with said friend in April. The plan is to try and win my spending money for that from the pokers in the next three months.
Also planning to play more live this year, so will be entering a few satellites online to try a bink a few seats to live events

Non Poker Post

2010-12-12T22:07:00.002Z

Short RL related post.
Took my just turned 4 year old to his first session of football training. He was proud as punch to be putting on his boots, shin pads, socks and start playing. The coach was cracking with the kids always encouraging. Brought back memories watching 'em being taught how to kick a ball properly, and how many of 'em tried to use the outside of the foot instead of the inside.
he gave it a good go lasting the whole session, but obviously tired.
Okay for him keeping warm running around, my feet were fucking freezing standing there. Trying to kick the ball back with numb feet bought back memories of playing football in the winter...lol

Played a little

2010-12-10T20:15:00.002Z

Have been dabbling in the micros, as much just to play some poker. Pretty much break even. Actually playing okay though. That's the problem with the micros when you don't play any volume. Continually make good decisions and get outdrawn. Obviously you want these calls as they make you the money, but a little frustrating.
Played a home game with some people I used to play home games with and the standard was very lol. I didn't hit a single flop. Only won one hand and that was a missed nut flush draw that beat a lower flush draw. Saw zero hands all night. Everytime I raised I got 4 or 5 callers...lol Them all drinking didn't help, seeing about 6 hands every 20 min level..lol
Have got back into the running. Not too much, just doing 5 mile runs while i'm at the gym. Feet been fine. Looking at running a half marathon start of March.

Am looking to back on the poker grind soon. A couple of the forums have recently had posts about RB on certain sites. Will enquire further, see if I can get a decent rate, and what volumes I will need to play.
If anyone has any decent links put 'em up here

No wonder I barely play!!

2010-11-03T21:10:00.002Z

A more apt title would probably be Fuck Poker. That pretty much sums up how playing again the past couple of weeks has been.
Have had brutal beat after brutal beat and cooler after cooler. There's too many to even bother listing here. No wonder the retards keep coming back when they constantly mash hands and get paid off.
One Russian,no surprise there, limp calls with 4 bb in a multi pot with j9 and obvo gets there.
A7 hits a 10 high straight against QQ etc etc etc

The standard at the low stakes just gets worse. Trouble is you have to play sooo many tournies to iron out the luck that it's ridiculous. Especially so against fields of thousands.

On other news, have started back in the gym but not running yet. Feet are healed now so hopefully will start back on the treadmill this week.

Time to get back on the bike?

2010-09-30T21:47:00.002+01:00

Feet have pretty much healed now. Not running yet but am back at work. Had actually got bored shitless at home watching DVDs and playing on the wii!!!
Got an email from titan saying they are running their DoN leaderboards again during October. Not as much in the prizepool this time though. I played some of these last time and the standard is sick bad at the low levels. I was running an roi over 20% in these DoNs last time they run them. Players were actually losing but winning more on the leaderboards/rb. They had no idea how to play these at all. Soo tempted to reload on titan just for these.

For those that are interested I have added a shop link at the top of the blog. The Bambee Babee Hampers are high quality baby hampers with organic products in. Take a look the next time you are looking for baby gifts

Ouch

2010-09-26T16:31:00.002+01:00

Well, i have spent much of the past week sitting on my ass with my feet up. Reason being the blisters, one in particular, became full of blood and swelled so much I couldn't get any footware on, let alone walk.
Went to the Dr who at first said you can leave it heal on it's own, what i usually do, and will be ok in 2 weeks time, or I can take a needle to it and you'll be ok by the end of the week. Did this and first couple of punctures were okay, didn't even feel em. The next 2 were fucking painful, think he went too far and got the foot!!!
Outcome being I can get footware on, and even walk, but my foot is still not healed. Any walking and the wound is still oozing blood.
All this sitting around, and the holiday before, aint good for your health. Have put on half a stone. Was looking at a half marathon end of Oct but have tickets to the NFL game at wembley the same day, so likely to be doing one middle of November now.

Update

2010-09-20T07:26:00.002+01:00

On the poker front there isn't much to update, basically I haven't played for a few weeks. Only thing I have done is withdraw my roll from Titan. It was sitting there doing fuck all so took it out. If I ever do play on ipoker again, I will redeposit on another ipoker site for a new bonus/rackback.
Can't remember if already posted but have booked a week in Vegas for April next year. Way to far away in time to even think about until the new year.
Had been caning the hours at work. Basically to pay for Vegas and my holiday last week.
Spent a week in the New Forest on a family holiday. Was pretty good, done plenty of walking and outdoors stuff. Had planned on playing some poker in the evening once family in bed, but internet signal was fucking awful. Could only get signal in the bedroom that kept on discoing.
Have also been doing a lot of running as due to run a half marathon this weekend. Did a training run yesterday and have fucked my feet up. Have about 6/7 blisters and can barely walk. Just a bit fucked off. Mainly as I haven't had any problems with them up to now. Including all the walking i did last week in trainers/wellies in the forest.
Will have to wait until next month now to do a half marathon. My links page will likely be updated soon to add a few running links.

Pokerstars can Fk off

2010-08-24T04:51:00.001+01:00

That is all. Cant be arsed to even bother listing the beats from the cunts tonight

Sick beats and slowrolling....

2010-08-22T22:58:00.002+01:00

....cunts
Been a sick few days with beats and coolers abso everywhere.
Several buys in down on stars after a ridic night of beats. Worst being 55 on an A5K flop. Get it in v K10 and KJ. Turn A, River A. Another player had folded the case A too.
On tilt tonight just ran like abso shite. Worst hand constantly getting there against me. Italian players calling with shit and calling down with 4th pair etc.
Then had a slowrolling cunt run his time down before calling me with JJ on a 7 high unco-ordinated board.
Back to ipoker Next week to grind the DoNs. Fuck this mtt lark when you spend hours getting fucked to bubble.

Small downswing, big beats

2010-08-20T07:41:00.002+01:00

Played a mix of DoNs, and 90man turbos on stars. Ran like utter shit in everything. AK < 75 , A10 < 86, QQ < 108. Pretty much every exit like this. QQ hand for a top 3 stack in 90 manner with 40 left. Cashed a couple of DoNs when hands held up. Didn't put one beat on others, which is unusual for DoNs with standard ICM strategy. Wasn't playing too tight either.
Saw some usual redic play too like players min raising in ep with A8s and then calling a shove!, obviously got there runner runner for the flush..lol

balance creeping upwards

2010-08-17T18:47:00.002+01:00

Still playing a few games at a time, just 4 tabling low/micros while working nights. DoNs still going good. cashing around 75% of the time!!
Have been playing some of the regular 90 manners, won one and 5th in another. The 180s and 45 manners have been sick in terms of the beats I been getting, too many to list..lol
The 90 manners are soooo soft it's unbelievable. They aren't turbos and have a decent enough structure, but people play em far too loose. I've taken some hits in them, been low, even the shortie, yet still had over 20BBs.
Once i'm back on days will be going back to the ipoker DoNs. They are pretty soft and have better Rb/bonuses, but more rake up front compared to stars.

Running going ok. Did 6 miles last week and could have done plenty more. Will be doing an 8 mile run this week then a 10 mile next week. Only doing one run a week. Totally against any training principles for long distance running but works for me!

Playing and winning, despite the beats

2010-08-07T03:08:00.002+01:00

Have started playing a few games again, mostly on stars. DoNs been going well. They went shite last time I played em on stars, which was a bit of a mystery as a tag like me loves 'em. as far as I know the chinese ring didn't play at my low levels, but i'm certainly winning at em at the moment. Only been playing 3 or 4 tables at a time but won a 45 manner. Quite anusing when you play so few as you have time to read the chat box. Apparently i'm a donkey luckbox!!! That may well be so but funny as fuck when players don't understand basic odds, let alone ICM, and then slate you. Think they got the hump when I called a guys allin with 63o, to be shown AQ. He got there on the river. Players were like wtf you doing? But hey, who the fuck is passing calling 1.1k into a 4.5k pot when you have a 14k stack ffs. The guy I beat heads up also couldn't understand why I pushed when folded round to my sb when I had K7..lol
Have to say tonight has gone awful. Got screwed everywhere on virgin, including trip jacks being called by j5, this after an oppo and myself had gone all in. He got there with runner runner for a flush..lol
Sickest was being 2nd in chips with 8 remaining in a 45 manner, 7 pay, and running kings into aces, sigh.

On the half marathon front training has been ok. Was sore for a few days last week, but did a 4.5 mile run this week and was ok a day later. will do a 6 miler at the weekend.

Running

2010-08-03T04:52:00.002+01:00

Started back in the gym last week and the running is going pretty well. Ran for nearly an hour solid yesterday on the treadmill. All good basic grounding for the road work. Only thing with treadmill is that it is boring as fuck.

Played some micro cash on party as they emailed saying I needed to play some raked shit or would get fees deducted. Played bad, far too loose and kept getting calls from players who thought 3rd/4th pair was the nuts...lol

I'm going to top up my dongle today and start playing again at work. Gonna grind some DoNs on whatever ipoker site will give me a half decent rackback/bonus deal.

Updating nothing

2010-07-20T16:50:00.002+01:00

Title just about sums it up. Have played zero poker since last post. Just can't be arsed to grind. Haven't been to the gym either, so i'm probs just a lazy fecker..lol
Actually updated all the poker sites this arvie, and titan have given me $400 bonus to grind. I'm sure i'll do it!!!
Going to restart the gym this evening. fucking wayyy behind. Got just under 10 weeks until I do a half marathon...oops.
whilst I haven't been playing i have been following the WSOP updates on pokernews. Awesome series for the Brits, with several bracelets won. only surprise was that some of the younger players we have didn't get closer.

Been following a fair bit of summer sport and WTF has happened to Sussex? should of pissed a semi final spot in 2020 and fucked it completely.
Currently watching the tour de france everyday, about the best thing on afternoon tv...lol

Running bad

2010-06-13T23:04:00.002+01:00

Played a few games on tilt and I absolutely always run like shit on there. Can't win a race for shit and constantly getting coolered. Even the mugs are waking up with a hand.
played a few on Virgin and ran like shit on there in DoNs. Usual 3 outer bullshit.
have played a couple of sessions of cash and played as badly as I have ran. Typical thing of trying to force it too much. Urgh at internet pokers, I need some live poker.
Failing that, think i'll deposit on betfair again. don't think I can run any worse than I am...lol
Off to the New Forest next week for a 3 day break. Hopefully my back will be better.
Once back from there will be back into the gym and the training. Fucking need it. Think i'm pushing 16 stone at the mo!!!

Getting flooded and AK

2010-06-12T02:06:00.002+01:00

Heavy rain was forecast last night, and as usual I was wary. 4 years ago my house got flooded, was a fucking nightmare, especially as mrs was preggers at the time. Since then i'm always on alert. We nearly got flooded 3 years ago. I ended up bailing water out the garden to stop house flooding. The fucking water companies don't maintain the drainways, so they always back up in heavy rain.
Anyway, was raining but all was fine last night. About to go to bed and it was getting worse, then started flooding. Ended up spending 4 hours bailing bins and buckets of water out my garden, to stop the house flooding. Have fucked my back up a treat in the process and can barely move. Ended up sleeping nearly all day as up all night. Sleep pattern even more fucked than usual! Obvo had to take day off work, they sure were happy.
Played a few micro stakes on stars tonight. A mixture of 45, 90, 180 and mtts. Ran like shit. Or shall I say the donks ran golden. Ace rag couldn't fail 'em tonight.
Then there was Ace fucking King. I lost every single hand with this. Always outdrawn when I had it. Always held when they had it. Drove me fucking nuts, i'm going back to DoNs. At least they finish quick. Played a knockout tourney on stars. First and last time, even if I did cash. So fucking slow. Also redic with multi calls in any position, regardless of betting, just for a chance of a bounty.
Finished down a couple of buyins.

Freeroll pain

2010-06-10T00:46:00.002+01:00

So I played a few freerolls, on stars and tilt. Usual bullshit beat fests. On the balance stars is better, it offers more places on the payscale. I managed to cash in one for 14 euro cents. Came something like 220th outta 3400 runners. Played good too. Got a few beats when deep. The tilt ones are a joke. UK freeroll had 1400 runners and 27 pay. busted around 200th. Full of stupid players. Defo softer on tilt.
Played a couple of micro games on tilt, an 18 manner and a 90 mannner. Bubbled the 18 after guy rivered a straight. Had lost most when had A10s in the BB and SB slowrolled my all in reraise with AKs, the cunt.
Was always comfortable in 90 man until about 30 out when ran A10 into AK. Then got A8 beat by kq on the river. Hung on till money and busted 18th when A2s no match for A3
High flop but 3 on turn sorted it.
Not sure if i can play this freeroll and microshit too often. Beats are sick

Signed up for the pain

2010-06-08T12:20:00.002+01:00

Took the plunge and signed up for the New Forest Half Marathon in September. Only problem is i haven't been to the gym in weeks, and piled on half a stone in Vegas!!!
Gonna start with the training this week hopefully. Not looking forward to it as the last time I did any decent road running I did my ankle and couldn't run for 4 months

Been railing the WSOP online most nights, then again in the morning to see how they have gone. Cracking series for the Brits so far with 2 bracelets, for Praz Bansi and James Dempsey, and a 2nd n 3rd in the shoot out for Neil Channing and Stuart Rutter.
Hopefully we'll see a few more final tables and bracelets for the Brits.

Onto my own poker playing and basically have done sod all since getting back from Vegas. Just can't be bothered to play, especially when you sit there for hours to get beats at the business end. Only session has been one tiny rush cash session on tilt, where I doubled and ran!
Actually logged into all my sites last night to get the software updates, and see what bonuses i have been offered to return (none).
Have been thinking that I should maybe concentrate on some micro stake cash games. I usually do ok in them but find em boring, and am not usually far away from tilt shoving.

One of the posters on blonde is doing a freeroll challenge. where he will start off with zero and build a roll from freerolls to the point where he can buyin to tournies. I might try something similar, but just play the freerolls. I already have some roll online for micro games so dont need to start a roll. Be a challenge to try and get some from freerolls though.
They are such bad value nowadays i.e. you may find a $50 prizepool and 10k runners, paying out to top 1%!!!

Vegas Review

2010-06-01T21:23:00.002+01:00

So, my flights had been rearranged for the 23rd May after being cancelled in April due to the volcano. Had to get to the airport a little earlier than usual as could not select seats on rearranged flights. Needed them together as travelling with the family including my 3 year old. Was a pain in the ass to start with. Was flying with Virgin and had to self check-in. The terminal kept booting me out half way through and the 'non-customer service' rep kept saying it could only be done through there. Eventually she relented and let us do it at the desk/bag drop.
stood there for another 15 minutes but eventually got 4 seats together. Flight over was pretty uneventful, bar a load of scousers drinking the free bar dry and being threatened with arrest when they refused to sit in seats and congregated by the doors.
This was the first time i've flown direct and terminal 2 at McCarron is sooo much quieter and quicker to get through. Had a result at immigration too when the guard saw I had a young child with me so let skip to front of queue!
Taxi driver took a long route to the excalibur so got a minimal tip. He then started on about why the tip was small so, with rest of family out of earshot, told him in a slightly nicer way that he was a scheming cunt for going a long way and to stop begging. Was on the cusp of asking for the minuscule tip back, for his cheek of asking, but told him to simply fuck off instead.
Check-in was quick and had adjacent rooms with walk-through door, as requested.
Room was basic and old. Bathroom only has a shower WTF? opened the adjoining doors to find two towers of beer cans/bottles inbetween the two doors. Could see the funny side of it, even if the cleaners are lazy fucks, and just put em in bin and left it in the corridor.
had a quickie dinner of Maccie Ds that first evening and an early night. Got the shopping at the outlet centres out the way the next day, for the mrs at least. I spent a few hours entertaining the little un on the rides etc and the disney shop whilst the mrs and mother in law shopped, then get told were leaving before I get a chance to buy anything!!!!
First night out go sight-seeing along the strip and go to sahara for some cheap roulette and blackjack. Mrs gets carded and so can't play. Shes nearly thirty but isn't carrying her passport around. so we play some slots for a couple of hours and finish up a bit. Comedy moment when after a few drinks she is hungry and wants a hotdog. For some drunken reason asks me what to order, with my blunt reply in a loud voice being ' a bloody hotdog'. Cue person at bar and barman thinking I want one too...lol
Did plenty of stuff for the littleun, visiting all the kids places. another com moment being visiting the adventuredome at circuscircus. Just about the only decent thing at the place. An attendant on one of the rides was the spit of MC from blondepoker. Was so tempted to surreptitiously film him and then post a 'MC broke in vegas and working at the adventuredome shocker'. I'm sure it woulda been taken in good heart.
Little un played plenty of games at the midway fair in the excalibur and won sooo many soft toys it was a wonder they all fit in the suitcase.
Like any 3 year old he loved the rain and thunder in the miracle mile and the monsoon and animals in the rainforest cafe. Not sure what the staff thought about him throwing burger at the cheater halfway up the wall that he was trying to feed!!!
The excalibur, and the strip in general was very busy the weekend we left. Not surprising as it was a holiday weekend.
Onto the poker and there wasn't much of it. This was expected as was a family holiday really. We had also agreed to take it in turns to stay in at night, so stayed in 2 nights to look after little un. Couldn't really play on the nights out either as neither the mrs or mother in law play poker. This left the daytime, when not doing the sightseeing shit. Ended up playing 6 tournies, 2 at the excalibur and 4at the luxor.
In short, these tournies have few runners, and are abso crapshoots. Also have standard vegas redic reg fees of 30%.
Played on 3 different days, 2 tournies a day.
The Luxor tournies were $33 buyins, they had 3k starting stacks and blinds as follows:
50/100 - 20 mins
100/200 - 20 mins
200/500 - 20 mins
500/1000 - 15 mins
1000/2000 - 15 mins
2000/4000 - 15 mins
4000/8000 - 15 mins

First tourney I made the final table, but was short and eventually busted about 6th, with 3 paying. 2 noticeable hands. JJ into 77 on a J high flop. Guy gutted a straight on the river. Exit hand 22 into 92, 9 on the flop.
Second tourney I got to double average quickly. Going ok when a shortish player all in. I called with AKs and so does oppo to my left. shortie had 1010 and leftie had 88. Flop was 998!!. Managed to check it down. Then getting short raised with 109s. got called ny leftie. I pushed the 9 high flop and he called with jacks. The guy was a rack. Had jacks or higher about 8 times in first two orbits. Was poor too. He overbet constantly when he had top pair. Usually on connected boards.
Third tourney I got to final but was never comfortable. K3s on the button no match for A9 on the bubble.
Fourth tourney I got up to double starting stack by making decent plays and c bets in good spots in first level. This was the only time you had chips to play any sort of poker, after that it was odds and situations for your stack. Though most players couldn't/didn't adjust. Made the final table then just picked spots to pick up chips. One player wanted an even chop with 6 left, 3 paying but got told no. I then took out two players, including him. One of em had limped with QQ on my big, leaving a couple of bigs behind. I had 75 and a 7 on the flop had me putting him all in. Obvo the 5 hit to give me a winning two pair. He appeared confused as to why i bet with 3rd pair, like I was folding after I had hit and he was soo short. Got 3 handed and I had almost half the chips. Lost about 7 hands in a row when a flop was seen to go short. Got some pushes through and once I knocked out the 3rd place woman me and oppo were even with chips and about 6bigs each so chopped the money. A little over $200 each.

The excalibur tournies were $40 buyins with 3k starting chips and blinds as follows:
50/100 - 15 mins
100/200 - 15 mins
200/400 - 15 mins
400/800 - 15 mins
800/1600 - 15 mins
1600/3200 - 15 mins
3200/6400 - 15 mins

An absolute crapshoot.

First tourney I double up first level when AK beats A10, all in on an A high flop!! Then just pick spots where i can. These crazy asian guy kept going allin pre. He got caught out but re bought and went on a heater to have a huge stack. The table was a pretty fun one, with one huge guy from Kentucky doing all the talking at first. He could play as well as he could talk though and crazy asian guy did for him. I was sat next to an aussie called Trent he seemed like a decent bloke. Was talking sports with him and MMA. He had come over for the fan expo and UFC 114. He was meant to be with a mate but his mate had pulled out 2 days before!
The tourney staff in this were a fucking joke, worst i've ever seen. The dealers were retirees who couldn't count, and would then refuse to admit they were wrong. Three guys were all in and she miscounted, calling a 500 chip a 1000 one and then getting the sidepots fucked up. Lukily the biggest stack won the hand so it didn't really matter.
Ends up 4 left and they still haven't put up the payouts. dealer asks if 3 or 4 pay. get told 3 pay and shortie gets knocked out and leaves. 10 mins later they put up that 4 pay out. Informed that 4th has already left and they say, no computer is wrong but we can't change and and say only 3 pay. They then have to recalculate the payouts. Obvo fucked up before. I busted 3rd for $115. Bust out was a beat when short but damage had been done when I got A5 to put asian guy in. Unfortunately aussie woke up with A7 and board ran low to give him the better 5th card kicker.
heads up between aussie and asian crazy lasted one hand. Asian guy had a small flush but aussie gutted a straight flush on the river.
Second tourney never saw a hand and busted mid tourney when my A9 could race v 55. Why the 55 player thought they were ahead when they called I do not know.

So that was it on the poker front. wanted to play much more but didn't have the time or freedom to do so. In all honesty i'll leave Vegas to going with mates in future. Whilst the tourist stuff is okay, it doesn't really need doing when you done it before. Only thing that's changed is that city centre is now completed. Looks pretty good and certainly fills the void. Now they need to get restarted on fontainblue and echelon place, as that end of the strip looks somewhat old and deserted.

Vegas

2010-05-22T20:50:00.002+01:00

Off to Vegas tomorrow for a week. Going with the family though, so will be doing plenty of the tourist stuff. Staying at the Excalibur. Wouldn't usually but perfect as my 3 year old will be with me.
Will try and get some poker in as aften as possible. Will defo be going to the UFC fan expo at Mandalay Bay.
Dollar rate a fucking shite $1.40 today. Glad I still had a fair bit from November. Will play poker tournies upto $100 buyin, whilst playing satellites into the bigger tournies. Will be in Vegas for the first couple of days of the WSOP so will try to get to the RIO and witness some of the madness!!!
Have plenty poker once since last post, That was the SCOOP main event Low a $109 buyin.
I obvo played it for free as I had a ticket from pokerstars for my excellent blogging...lol
Tourney went fucking awful. Me bring a tag nit should of cruised to the money with a 10k starting stack, but lasted 20 minutes!!!
Played 2 hands. reraised with AQs but completely missed the flop and had to fold when faced with abet and raise in front of me.
Exit hand I had 55 and saw a cheap flop. It was a rainbow with a 5, but my oppos gutshot got there by the river. Was pretty certain he had hit but was priced and wasn't grinding all night with a shortstack, not when I had work the next day.

Getting the run bad out the way

2010-05-02T00:10:00.003+01:00

Have played a couple of tiny buyins last couple of days. Obvo ran like shite. Played a few freerolls on stars, the Uk freerolls where you can qualify for a $150k freeroll end of may. Had the usual stuff in em bar one. i.e. 5 betting allin with AK and getting looked up by Q9o..lol I know I know it's a freeroll.
Went deep in one of em. 3100+ runners. Finished 136th. Good to know I can actually still be patient for large field donkfests. never got it in bad once. Now this is good and bad. Against any half decent players you're gonna need to make moves and will get in in bad sometimes. Against donks though, they aint folding so you pretty much gotta have it. Exit hand was standard. Had been playing tight as loose chippies were on my left. Only shown down AK and QQ. Pushed with around 14 bigs with JJ and got called by AJo. Of course his first fuckup gets compounded by him flopping broadway. Thats the way it goes of course.
In better news I have been given a scoop ticket by pokerstars for repeating all their phrases as requested in my blog. I have even been given a $109 ticket as mine were apparently the better ones. At least i incorporated mine into blog posts rather than just posting the phrases on their own!
Going to Vegas in 3 weeks time...wiiii
Have not been to gym for two weeks, need to get my ass in gear. Had planned to do a 5k run end of May, but in Vegas now so need to find one localish for June.

Will get to Vegas....eventually!!!

2010-04-25T21:02:00.003+01:00

Following on from my last post, I found out around 20:30 last Monday that my flight to Vegas would not be happening. Took 3 hours to get through to expedia. They took my booking number, put me on hold, then cut me off, the cunts. The 'phone sure didn't get lunged across my lounge!!
Was so pissed off at this point I emailed 'em to say give me a refund.
Had calmed a little the next day and tried to ring again. 20 minutes then cut off. Then the line just went dead everytime I rang. Left it a couple of hours and got through after 2 hours.
Now, my original flights were on the 20th April. Nearest available was the 8th May. Then informed only premium economy available, at a cost of £1800 each seat!!!WTF
Obvo doidn't take that. Eventually got seats for 23rd May. As one of the last bookings i can't pick seats online either, so will need to check in early as have my 3 year old with me, and can hardly have him sitting on his own.
Good news was the hotel is cheaper that week so get a £27 refund..woo hoo!
Not so good is that average temp is 35c everyday. Fine for beach holiday but far from ideal for walking round vegas doing tourist shit. The WSOP starts the last couple of days of my holiday.
Now obviously the WSOP is about more than just holdem, but thats all you'll hear about unless Ivey binks a bracelet again in one of the other forms of poker. Perhaps some of the bracelet chasers, those with prop bets or Phil Hellmuth, should learn how to play pot limit omaha or maybe how to play 7 card stud !!!
On the poker front, have played nothing bar a freeroll on titan and a rush tourney on tilt. Both went shite. In the freeroll, kept running into players who couldn't lay down 3rd pair no draw. Rush tourney was a nit fest. Players had the absolute nuts everytime I tangled with em. Just really can't be bothered to play atm.

WTF.....? No Vegas

2010-04-16T23:05:00.002+01:00

Myself and the family are supposed to be going to Vegas on Tuesday. That looks very unlikely now, what with all the ash from the Iclandic volcano eruptions. Am due to fly with Virgin so can be put on later flights. That doesn't solve either the already booked and paid for hotel rooms, or the fact I don't have indefinite annual leave.
I sure as hell want to spending any time hanging around airports waiting for delayed flights with a 3 year old in tow.
Insurance companies are a bunch of cunts too, with their classic get out of an Act of God enabling them to not pay out.
Hmmm wonder how that sits with an athiest...i'm sorry sir we can't pay you out as we believe a delusional character from within our belief systems caused the volcanic eruptions and prevents us from paying out!!!

No Change

2010-03-26T20:41:00.002Z

Played a very small session this evening, finishing up with a small profit. Run like shit in the ones I didn't cash. Had one bubble in the DoNs where the shorties won something like 7 all ins in a row, often when behind, including once to myself. I then obvo can't win a 65-35 when my chips went in, sigh. Software on titan still tilts me. Though more bearable when only playing a few tables.
Think I need to go back to stars and play the 45s and 180s again. Perhaps I will run half decent and get some dollars to play some of the scoop events. Obviously it will be the lows. Only way i'll be playing a high stakes poker tournament in the near future is if I win the lottery or bink a freeroll qualifier..lol
Only 25 days until I go to Vegas. Rate is still awful obviously!!!

Back to the dentist

2010-03-17T21:21:00.002Z

Finally saw the dentist today for remedial treatment. Last time I saw him he said he wanted to pull the tooth, I said I would prefer an RCT, as I don't fancy a hole in the back of my mouth. He thought it was too difficult to do. Over the past 6 weeks I have had 2 infections in said tooth and was quite happy if he wanted to pull it if it would stop the infections. Anyway once in there he seems to have changed his mind and says he'll see if we can save it first before pulling it.
Gives me two injections to numb it and spends the next half hour drilling away. Thought he was pulling it, but after 40 ins says that he has put 1 RCT in but I need to go back for another RCT in the same tooth, and a composit filling.
Have to go back 8 days before I go to Vegas so I hope he sorts it before then.
Have played virtually no poker the past week. Keep feeling too tired after being ill last week, and being back on days doesn't really help.
Played a new player freeroll on titan and got hero called with bottom pair for half my stack. Lost the rest when A10s was no good for 22 after a 27A flop!

Running bad and tilting

2010-03-11T22:29:00.002Z

Have had a fucking awful session which sums up March on the poker front. Ran at a fucking unbelievable cash rate of 30% in tonights DoNs on ipoker. Sums it up that I bubbled in 60% of the tournies I played!
It's tilting me to fuck. don't know whats worse the bad players, the bad beats, or the bad software/interface. The interface is tilting me so much that I think i'll withdraw from Titan and fuck off to another ipoker site. Absolute fucking joke. I can't even see the notes i've made on players it's sooo small. Was becoming soo tilted I thought it best to log off.
Run pretty bad, hardly saw a decent hand. Ran A9 or A10 on the button into the BB AK/AQ/AA repeatedly. Never binked either.
Off to cool down and play some 180 manners on stars

Awful software/layout

2010-03-10T22:03:00.002Z

What the fuck have Titan poker done with their upgrade. The new software is fucking awful. Sooo clunky and overcrowded. The tile view doesn't work, it just puts oversized tables all over the place. Everything is now smaller. Can't even read the notes i'm writing on players as the writing is sooo small!! Everything seems miles away even though the tables are bigger.
Only played a small session because of it. The games seemed to be taking a little longer to get going too. I wonder if the software changes has pissed others off as well as me!!!
Have started taking some basic notes on players, other than the four letter acronyms I usually have for some of em..lol
As i'm not signed up to sharkscope I tend to write down the usernames than look up five at a time. Usually restrict it to regs playing lots of games, or those being very aggressive or taking strange lines in betting patterns.
Results so far are that most of the players are shit! Either losing players or ones with tiny positive roi's of like 3 or 4% over several thousand games. Biggest winner so far in current games is on 6%
After my very bad session the other night I have had a couple of small winning sessions.
Current cash rate is only 62.8% now, sigh. ROI is 16%, still okay but was way over 20%
Really need to grind these games as the bonus I have works out around 16% cashback on it's own. Will change sites after bonus ends though as there will be sites with better RB than Titan.

Varience kicks in

2010-03-07T23:26:00.002Z

Just had a fucking awful session. 33% cash rate on DoNs. Never had such a shite % over a decent set of games. This was on ipoker of course. Lost every time I had KK, either running into AA or a lower pair getting trips. Lost loads of 70-30 shots, and of course never hit when I was in bad, sigh. Even worse I was beaten by players outdrawing me when there was no way they should of calling. Around the bubble stage you don't really want these calls, even though you're obvo ahead as the blinds alone are so high.
Even though I won the last two I quit the session early as was starting to steam. Evidenced by me getting verbal in the chat room!

Slowly building

2010-03-02T22:02:00.002Z

Didn't grind for the leaderboard over the weekend as was too far behind. Play a few games today though. Kept it at 4 tabling as ipoker software is shit and often wont bring tables to top so you keep getting blinded out. Still running pretty good, even if I did go out of my first game when my kk in level one wasn't a match for 103s. Oppo hit 2 pair on river of course. lol'd though when checking his stats and finding him at -19% at DoNs over 600 games!!
Had one player who was either very shit or colluding/soft playing. He had 300 in bb from a 2.5k stack. sb was allin for 380 total and bb folded instead of calling for the extra 80. If he was super tight I would of just thought he was shit but he had been most active player at the table!!
Didn't matter in the end as I had a decent session in the end. Current stats since starting on titan DoNs are a cashing rate of 71.4% and an roi of 29.8%. This is sick good and likely unsustainable. At this rate there is only one player who has better stats at my level according to sharkscope, and he hasn't played this year!!!
Will probs keep playing these for a while as I have a bonus to clear. Shit bonus for the rake i'll generate, but did it for the free software so worth it. especially as they seem so sick soft.
Apparently anything over 10% roi long term is good, so wiiiiiii for now!
Vegas in 7 weeks today, and the $ exchange rate looks like falling through the floor...fffs

No internet connection

2010-02-26T21:11:00.002Z

Put my laptop on last night and it loads up as usual, then a window comes up saying that the enet manager not working. basically my wireless connection system wouldn't load up. Tried everything but couldn't get it to work. Rest of lappie and programs working fine though.
Frustrating as fuck as I was looking to put a decent 4/5 hour session in grinding DoNs to fly up the leaderboard for last week of promo on ipoker.
Gave up in the end and looked up IT guys in the local area. Phoned him after dropping off little un. Guy came round within the hour. He found it just as difficult to start with, but has scanned my lappie, fixed conflicts, updated drivers and reinstalled all the wireless shit. He spent about 80 mins doing so and only wanted a tenner as he thought he should of sorted it sooner WTF?
Gave him twenty and still felt that was too little. Will be recommending him to friends.
Way to far behind now for the leader so just played a small set of 5 this arvie. Cashed in 3 for a small profit. Went out of other 2 with a3v89 and AJvQ5. Still making profit but not at the rate I was. Looked up sharkscope for leading players at my stake and when I started I was at leaderboard cash rates. Think this is attainable for me though as the standard is so bad at this level.
Adding to a previous post of break even runs, there was a post on blonde that showed the sharkscope graph of a player who was a small loser who binked an ftops tourney and now has a massive spike in his graph, which is why poker is clearly a game of skill!

Have added a couple of new blog links. If anyone wants me to list their blog, leave a comment

Verified

2010-02-22T16:01:00.002Z

Finally had my referral verified. They have stated I have already got the points needed, although I haven't. Won take me long though as I only need to play around 70 games to get the points. Once done I can basically get holdem manager and table ninja for $15!
DoNs have started good on the new ipoker site. They are sooo soft it's unbelievable. Players going all in UTG with big stacks to their left and shorties behind em. This does of course mean that my KK gets cracked by rag aces on the river....standard.
Just had a session where I cashed at 75%. Which is pretty sweet for DoNs. Rate on this new site, though a small sample, is just under 73%. 70% is probably very achievable long term at these.
Can't get that many games going though, they don't run that often either. Will probs just 4/5 table with the mini view unless I can find some decent software/scripts for it. The trouble at the moment is they just put the tables on top of one another after 4. The don't always pop to top either so you have to keep a close eye on the tables.
Will probs play these during ipoker busy sessions, then play stars 45/180 manners the rest of the time. 45 manners i'm cashing at 22%

Why so slow

2010-02-18T03:22:00.002Z

Still waiting for my ipoker account to be stated as linked to site so can claim for free software. Fucking pain in the ass as I could of been well up the bloody leaderboard if I started Monday on their double up promo. The referral site claiming they are waiting for the poker site to send details, sigh. Despite this I logged on tonight to check out standard/liquidity. Lets just say that both are shite. Took 10-15 mins for a set of 3 to load up around 02:30 uk time. with only 6k players on the network. played 3 double ups. Cashed in first 2. Was 3rd of 6 in last when big chippie kept going all in every hand. He doubled up a couple of shorties, then raised before folding on the flop first to act to a player with 200 chips to keep him in. Fucking cheating cunt. Even laughing about it in the chatbox the prick. tried to report him but online support was vacant. Ipoker sooo shit after you been playing on stars. The tables don't even resize, so used the mini view thing, which was actually easier on the eye than them fucking graphics. Shame there no liquidity, could get my bonus pretty quick otherwise. Will try it out during the day this week.
Played a couple last night on stars. Got nowhere. Played a higher buyin DoN and cashed after playing shite early, far too loose. Actually found it easier to get chips as players played more in line with standard DoN gameplan. Basically meant I had more spots to accumulate uncontested.
Using OPR/sharkscope to track results and OPR shows a cash rate of 21% for 45 mans. Also shows a redic 60% for 90/180 manners on a very small sample!!
It often shows one of the top ranked players when it loads up. Showed one last night who plays all the big games on tilt. He basically break even until this week when binking an ftops!!
Made the mistake of going to local zoo with little un during half term. Couldn't move for people. Won't be repeating that experience.

Slowly clawing it back.

2010-02-16T04:55:00.002Z

Only been playing a few tournies past few days, not been grinding at all. Have deposited on an ipoker site but still waiting for referral site to confirm it's been linked so I can grind the DYMs there. Have a 100% bonus too.
While waiting for that been playing the occasional 45/180 manners on stars. Going ok on them with a couple of cashes. Last 180 was low all game but stole plenty late on to get to FT. Went 2nd hand FT. QQ in the BB running into AA, sigh!!
Tried out stars promo 40 man games as part of their f40 promo. Such a shit standard of player. Multiple limp calls. Players busting quicker than in a 45 man turbo. Was something like 26 of 30 left but still had 30bb. Thats a mountain of chips to an stt er. Ended up finishing 5th when I got slowrolled by the shortstack BB when I pushed in the small. He had 4 bb and tanked with A3..lol I had been stealing every round too. Then lost the rest of em, when my rags couldn't get there.
Have also played a little on party micro cash tables. Standard awful, but i'm never going to get the points for the bonus. Don't seem to get fuck all points on the micros. Will just take the profit.

AK and 'stars...

2010-02-14T04:05:00.003Z

.... can both go fuck themselves IMO!!!
Played another batch of DoNs on stars tonight and they omens were there from the beginning when I ran QQ into AA, sigh. Busted first 8 or 9 with AK. Either not getting there v a small pair or getting fuck by hands like q9 or j7. Ended up with a fucking atrocious cash rate of 45%.
My trial of tableninja runs out today, so I wont be mass tabling on stars for a while. Will be starting my new ipoker site on Sunday night. Looking at it I can probs make a decent place on their sit n go leaderboard promo. A nice addition to the bonus, software and rakeback i'll be getting.
Will play 90 and 180 manners on stars too.

Software glitches...

2010-02-11T05:07:00.004Z

The last couple of sessions that I have played tableninja has been playing up a bit. Keeps on bringing up table filter when regging, which it didnt do before. Fucking pain in the ass when you need to play a hand and suddenly cant see your tables. It also keeps leaving me sitting out when I time out. Fucking annoying when the first problem it caused is causing the time outs.
Despite all this I managed to run at 70% cash rate in the DoNs on stars tonight. Thought I had done shit too...lol When you push on 10 tables straight one after another it's impossible to track whilst 15 tabling. For once my big hands held up in these things.
Need to do some grinding to clear off my bonuses. Have found a decent bonus for an ipoker site that gives a deposit bonus and free credits to get holdem manager. Will need some grinding though, as ipoker a lot more clumsy than stars. May drop to the 6 man DYMs there as they play so quick incomparison to 10 mans

50%

2010-02-09T16:33:00.002Z

Played DoNs for two hours last night. 15 tabling played 50 in two hours on stars. Finished with a rubbish cash rate of 50%, obvo behind on the rake. Did run bad all in though. AA won 2/6. I lost with AQ about ten times in a row before holding in the very last one. Don't know what it is about these stars ones. I cash 60-70% of the time on ipoker and boss, at higher levels too.
May have to stick to the mtt sit n gos on stars.
Have started playing some micro cash on party to work off the tiny bonus they gave me. Standard as poor as ever there..lol Though the cash tables play sooo slow, and thats the speed ones. Perhaps I need to play more tables on there. Their lobby stats are way off though. Every table saying 70 hand per hour, I wish!!!

What to do now?

2010-02-07T23:21:00.003Z

At the start of this year my plan was to put a hell of a lot more time/games in. Started off on stars as they had a deposit bonus, but ran bloody awful in January, my worst month in poker. Someone on blonde recently advertised a staking deal for 45 manners. I applied but unsurprisingly I didn't get picked. There were quite a few candidates and only one place on offer. Wanted it mostly for the coaching part but nevermind.
That leaves me with a decision to make as to what to do next. I will continue to play at least few games on stars as the 90/180 manners are pretty soft. Have looked at rakeback deals on boss and I probs wont rake enough to get paid. By the looks of it they only pay out if your rakeback reaches £30, which is £100 raked. As they have pretty much fuck all games on in the night, I dont think ill ever earn enough rake to get the rakebake.
I could get an ipoker rakeback and just gring their DYMs which are very soft. Could also play on tilt 45 mans with a rakeback deak.
Still thinking of the coaching options. Though will have to deposit again as they require a minimum bankroll, and game buyin to make it worthwhile to them. Decisions, decisions. Played a couple of 45 manners, getting a 3rd and 11th in a 90 manner. Exit hand being KK v 88 all in pre. 8810 flop a little harsh...lol At least it's a better start to February.

2010-02-05T15:04:00.002Z

Well I saw my dentist yesterday. After having tooth x rayed he drilled out/drained most of infection sans injection. Fucking killed when he hit the root directly. He wants to pull it out completely, whereas i would prefer an RCT. Speaking to friends, they recommend having it pulled! Don't go back for a month though. Hope the antibiotics keep the pain away till then.
Finally got the password for my party account. Found I have $25 in there. Fuck all but they have put a $30 bonus in there too, probs as I not logged on for so long. Will probs play a little cash there.
With the toothache and a busy couple of buusy nights at work I haven't played bar a couple of stars freerolls. Was too tired to play really so just went for stacks early. Worked well and got stacks before the usual beats. Expected though as was being way too aggressive.

AAAAARRRGGHHH

2010-02-03T04:38:00.002Z

Been in constant pain the last few days with fucking toothache. Nothing else comes close for pain IMO. Toothache started last week, but was not particulrly troublesome....at first. Sunday night it started getting worse, and giving me sharp pain everytime I drank a hot drink. Went to bed and it was fucking agony laying down. Only thing stopping it was drinking cold water. Got 2 hours sleep. Pain was horrendous Monday. Analgesia didn't touch it, just the cold water giving temporary relief. Had to see the emergency dentist Monday. Have an infection under the tooth. Need to see regular dentist to have it xrayed and then either RCT or tooth pulled. Prescribed 2 antibiotics. Still popping the painkillers. But now it's the cold drinks bringing excruciating pain.
Even worse is my regular dentist is a fucking butcher.

Played a couple of games Sunday evening. The stars uk freerolls, and a 180 manner. Cashed in the £2k freeroll without taking the rebuy or add ons. Min cash this time, just inside the money. The 180 I FT'd but finished 9th. Was short and exit hand would of put me 4th! I seem to be doing better in the mtts..lol so much for Sit n Gos being my stock game.

Should have a home game to go to Sat evening. Can't drink cos of the antibiotics though. That may be a good thing as they are all aggro fish.