Raising Pots
Following on from last week I have been surfing down a fairly slippery downswing this week which has affected every part of game. Poker is a game that requires many different skill sets, and a huge one is the mental side of the game. Now, I'm not referring here to getting your aces cracked by some donkey then going tilt monkey and spewing buy-ins all over the place, I'm talking about playing your 'A' game but just having the worst of it. Hitting a set and losing to a higher one or a concealed straight, those kind of hands. It just seems when on a downswing there isn't much you can do right except grind through it and take as small a loss as possible. I was able to improve my mental frame of mind by watching some of Blackrain79's videos on dragthebar.com and realising that I am playing well I'm just getting unlucky. So, that said, I did implement some changes this week which I hope will have a positive impact in my game. Firstly I realised I was not isolating limpers nearly enough when I have position. In the words of Blackrain79 himself 'isolating limpers is winning poker'. Secondly, hence the blog post title, I have moved up from 6 tables to 9 nine tables. The affect here I hope is that my hourly rate will increase and therefore my profits. Thirdly, and I love this one, I have added a new note taking system whereby I don't actually take individual notes on players I just colour code them as fish, regs and nits so I can immediately see when table selecting those that I want to be on.
So the tale of the week:
Hands: 11,507
Hours: 23.00
BB/100: -0.79
$/hour: -$0.39
Total winnings: -$9.04
Total rakeback: $13.20
Total for the week: $4.16
So, as expected a slight losing week on the tables made profitable by rakeback. You'll also see I've added in a new stat ($/hour) as this is an important winrate indicator I have been missing out. I'm going to go back through previous posts and add this in.
Lifting Weights
Emotionally my heart hasn't been on the ball with the gym lately. I have been a couple of times this week and have had some good sessions. Have reduced the cardio I'm doing a little bit to ensure that I have the maximum energy for the weights. I find all too often I'm losing steam on the weights following an all too vigourous warm up. So, of course the cardio is needed and I will do it but will cut down on the warm-ups and maybe implement a cardio only workout once a week to keep the CV work up.
Have really noticed the lack of regular gym work in my overall wellbeing. My sholuder injury, which following some extensive physio and training, reall improved 100%. This past few weeks I have really struggled with the pain here so, my body is now talking to me and it's saying come on Pokerlifter, don't forget about me...I won't.
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Dazed and Confused
Raising Pots
Devastating. Truly no other way to describe this week on the virtual felt. Just when you are riding high and thinking you're doing well, variance comes and reminds you that poker is never a solved game. Riding out a downswing with minimal loss is the key to being a winning player. I'm almost embarrassed to write up this week but here goes:
Hands: 8,083
Hours: 20.62
BB/100: -6.10
Total winnings: -$49.32
Total rakeback: $6.73
Total for the week: -$42.59
Yes, you're not misreading that. I lost a staggering 10 buyins this week. Never have I suffered such a loss and it makes me sick to the bottom of my stomach. I played bad on occasions and ran terribly. Flushes lost to full houses, sets to straights, full house to higher full houses, I was also slow rolled by some donkey with quads which really tilted me. I've forgotten my own mantra this week which is poker is about small edges. I'm confident that I am a winning player and that I will get out out of this rut. It's painful, it's deep but I have the heart and commitment to do it. I'm essentially a grinder. I can and will grind out my 4BB/100 over a month. I will because I can. This blog is important, getting this down on 'paper' helps to clear those demons.
Lifting Weights
After a really positive start to the week I got sick on Wednesday and Thursday and once again lost rhythm and motivation. I have a lot of odd working hours over the next month so am confident I can get in the gym and start to get some rhythm.
Two apologies this week, firstly that this blog is so short and rushed and secondly I still owe an October review. It's on its way dear reader complete with graphs and all sorts...
Devastating. Truly no other way to describe this week on the virtual felt. Just when you are riding high and thinking you're doing well, variance comes and reminds you that poker is never a solved game. Riding out a downswing with minimal loss is the key to being a winning player. I'm almost embarrassed to write up this week but here goes:
Hands: 8,083
Hours: 20.62
BB/100: -6.10
Total winnings: -$49.32
Total rakeback: $6.73
Total for the week: -$42.59
Yes, you're not misreading that. I lost a staggering 10 buyins this week. Never have I suffered such a loss and it makes me sick to the bottom of my stomach. I played bad on occasions and ran terribly. Flushes lost to full houses, sets to straights, full house to higher full houses, I was also slow rolled by some donkey with quads which really tilted me. I've forgotten my own mantra this week which is poker is about small edges. I'm confident that I am a winning player and that I will get out out of this rut. It's painful, it's deep but I have the heart and commitment to do it. I'm essentially a grinder. I can and will grind out my 4BB/100 over a month. I will because I can. This blog is important, getting this down on 'paper' helps to clear those demons.
Lifting Weights
After a really positive start to the week I got sick on Wednesday and Thursday and once again lost rhythm and motivation. I have a lot of odd working hours over the next month so am confident I can get in the gym and start to get some rhythm.
Two apologies this week, firstly that this blog is so short and rushed and secondly I still owe an October review. It's on its way dear reader complete with graphs and all sorts...
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Sick or Treat
Raising Pots
Poker can be an emotional game, just look at Filippo Candio's reactions during this year's WSOP to realise that there are many highs and lows which need to be overcome in order to be a good player. Highs and lows which can only be successfully navigated by remaining on a level plain.
I'm tilted. This blog is gonna be short this week for that reason. With no disrespect to my readers I'm just in no mood to write. Following a really good week for all sorts of reasons (on and off the tables) this weekend has not been so great.
Let's get on with the tale of the tape then:
Hands: 5,409
Hours: 13.63
BB/100: 1.61
Total winnings: $8.69
Total Rakeback + Take 2 Bonus: $28.66
Total for the week: $37.35
I made a profit. Go me.
Lifting Weights
Didn't gym this week. Why not? Didn't want to. Any more questions? No. Good.
Come back mid-week for an October review which I promise will be more readable.
Poker can be an emotional game, just look at Filippo Candio's reactions during this year's WSOP to realise that there are many highs and lows which need to be overcome in order to be a good player. Highs and lows which can only be successfully navigated by remaining on a level plain.
I'm tilted. This blog is gonna be short this week for that reason. With no disrespect to my readers I'm just in no mood to write. Following a really good week for all sorts of reasons (on and off the tables) this weekend has not been so great.
Let's get on with the tale of the tape then:
Hands: 5,409
Hours: 13.63
BB/100: 1.61
Total winnings: $8.69
Total Rakeback + Take 2 Bonus: $28.66
Total for the week: $37.35
I made a profit. Go me.
Lifting Weights
Didn't gym this week. Why not? Didn't want to. Any more questions? No. Good.
Come back mid-week for an October review which I promise will be more readable.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Live and Exclusive
Raising Pots
The slightly sombre mood of last week's post fortunately will not be rearing it's head in this week's post readers. Despite a very disappointing session on Sunday to start the week, the rest of the week turned out pretty well. As mentioned last week, the 'Take 2' promotion required me to play every night this week with only one day off (Wednesday) allowed. This was an exciting prospect and something I've never done before, that is to say, never had to put the volume in so regardless of how I ran I had to sit and play, which is good. It forced me to play through a patch that was becoming a little rocky at the end of last week. Anyway, I'm glad to say that as of today I have successfully completed the promotion and $25 will be deposited into my account. This will not feature in this week's tale of the tape as it will be paid today.
So, without much further ado, here's the all important tale of the tape:
Hands: 4,839
Hours: 11.28
BB/100: 3.11
Total winnings: $15.05
Total Rakeback: $5.28
Total for the week: $20.33
So, a much better week play wise. Not as much profit as last week, though actual poker winnings are significantly up from last week's dismal show.
So, how are things with my game? I feel a lot more confident in the way I play, I think previously my biggest leak was overplaying certain hands and being far too keen to bluff at pots, which when it backfired would result in a lot of tilt. My current game has a much more patient approach, sure it's frustrating when you're card dead but it is here that I am better at spotting areas to make some moves and pick up a few pots to keep me floating. So, for those in the know, you could call me a Steady Eddie - and I quite literally have the badge to prove it.
Lifting Weights
Oh boy is it cold in the mornings here at the moment! And no more so when you drag your sorry old bones out of bed to head to the gym before work. Well, yes that's what I did. Much like last week I had a steady three sessions at the gym this week (complete with notepad) and worked on my core exercises which consist on a lot of heavy squatting then free weight work hitting two body areas each time. So, for instance, on Monday I hit my arms and shoulders. I super-setted my biceps and triceps exercises with dumbbells then went straight to overhead military presses before back on the arms with cable machine work before finishing off with some pulls ups and free hangs.
It felt good, I really enjoy being in the gym and though it always feels like a chore to actually go, really it isn't and I love being in there. As stated last week, I just need to keep the ball rolling.
The slightly sombre mood of last week's post fortunately will not be rearing it's head in this week's post readers. Despite a very disappointing session on Sunday to start the week, the rest of the week turned out pretty well. As mentioned last week, the 'Take 2' promotion required me to play every night this week with only one day off (Wednesday) allowed. This was an exciting prospect and something I've never done before, that is to say, never had to put the volume in so regardless of how I ran I had to sit and play, which is good. It forced me to play through a patch that was becoming a little rocky at the end of last week. Anyway, I'm glad to say that as of today I have successfully completed the promotion and $25 will be deposited into my account. This will not feature in this week's tale of the tape as it will be paid today.
So, without much further ado, here's the all important tale of the tape:
Hands: 4,839
Hours: 11.28
BB/100: 3.11
Total winnings: $15.05
Total Rakeback: $5.28
Total for the week: $20.33
So, a much better week play wise. Not as much profit as last week, though actual poker winnings are significantly up from last week's dismal show.
So, how are things with my game? I feel a lot more confident in the way I play, I think previously my biggest leak was overplaying certain hands and being far too keen to bluff at pots, which when it backfired would result in a lot of tilt. My current game has a much more patient approach, sure it's frustrating when you're card dead but it is here that I am better at spotting areas to make some moves and pick up a few pots to keep me floating. So, for those in the know, you could call me a Steady Eddie - and I quite literally have the badge to prove it.
Lifting Weights
Oh boy is it cold in the mornings here at the moment! And no more so when you drag your sorry old bones out of bed to head to the gym before work. Well, yes that's what I did. Much like last week I had a steady three sessions at the gym this week (complete with notepad) and worked on my core exercises which consist on a lot of heavy squatting then free weight work hitting two body areas each time. So, for instance, on Monday I hit my arms and shoulders. I super-setted my biceps and triceps exercises with dumbbells then went straight to overhead military presses before back on the arms with cable machine work before finishing off with some pulls ups and free hangs.
It felt good, I really enjoy being in the gym and though it always feels like a chore to actually go, really it isn't and I love being in there. As stated last week, I just need to keep the ball rolling.
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Thick as thieves!
Raising Pots
I'm still here, still at $5NL. That's good right? Haven't had to drop back down in levels. Yep, still here and still enjoying the level but have realised I'm not invincible. I never thought I was but when you have a heater has hot as the one I was on since I started this level you can't help but begin to think you are. Heaters are great, every pair flops a set, every draw hits and you make loads of money. So what's the opposite. Well, a cooler obviously. I don't think I've been on a cooler this week, indeed I have done quite well, but there is definitely an icy front approaching, the last few sessions of this week have certainly been chilly. I even put the central heating on in Pokerlifter Towers to thaw this frost but it's coming...I just have to push through it. One good thing about it is I may be able to grind my way through as the next couple of weeks are going to say an exceptional number of hands registered. You see, those nice folks at Full Tilt Poker have repeated their 'Take 2' promotion from last year and all that needs happen is to play 9 out of the next 10 days and they'll give you a nice $25 bonus. So this means that I need to play every evening bar one this week until next Sunday to get it. Should be easy.
Got an interesting email on Friday from Full Tilt Poker telling me that:
'The Full Tilt security department has recently concluded an extensive investigation and we have determined that some of your opponents were in violation of our site terms. We have permanently closed all of the offending accounts. In cases of proven cheating, 100% of the confiscated funds are returned to the players that were victimized'
That's right! Someone has cheated Pokerlifter out of some of his money! $12.65 to be precise! So this was a nice little bonus and the forums were buzzing with people having got got the same email, some players receiving $1 or $2 whilst others got over $2,000. It would appear that FTP closed down a number of Bot accounts that were plaguing the site. Well done FTP! Really reassuring to see that the integrity of online poker is being maintained.
So, the all important tale of the tape:
Hands: 3,802
Hours: 9.12
BB/100: 0.38
Total Winnings: $1.45
Total Rakeback: $9.17
Reimbursement: $12.65
Total for the week: $23.27
A profitable week once again but a truly dismal amount of volume at the tables. Lowest volume since August 27th and no excuses really. To be fair, I knew the 'Take 2' promotion was coming and that I'd be able to get the volume in there so no big deal. Crucially though, $1.45 is the net sum of my week's poker profits. Not good. Not good at all.
Lifting Weights
Who's that chap in the gym writing notes. Why that's Pokerlifter. Yes, notebook in hand I have been gymming this week and really enjoying it. Sat here feeling pretty stiff and pleased with myself. I mean, I haven't done a 10k run in under an hour or anything amazing like that, but I have had a good week. Crucially though, I have decided to make notes about what I am doing. For the last few weeks I have too often gymmed with no real idea of progress or what I lifted last week/month. So, I've jotted some things down so that when I go next week I know what to lift. There are not a great deal of notes to combine into this blog post right night but I'm hoping there will be next week.
It's really time to get serious about this. Christmas is exactly 9 weeks away. 9 weeks is a great amount of time to truly get into some shape and make some progress. When I write my 2010 summary I will look back on this post with a smile, for today dear reader, is where things have really come together.
I may also be including something new into my week as a motivator and something a bit different. Very near to Pokerlifter Towers is a leisure centre that always has a banner outside advertising a Martial Arts class. This is something that I have always had an interest in and really enjoyed whenever I have done it, however I've never really been able to fit it in around work and my other commitments. However, this one is different as it is on a Thursday evening at 7:30pm or a Saturday morning at 10:30am. Either of which I could do, so watch this space next week as I may well be doing some Kung Fu fighting on here. Maybe it will help with my occasional tendency to go tilt monkey...
I'm still here, still at $5NL. That's good right? Haven't had to drop back down in levels. Yep, still here and still enjoying the level but have realised I'm not invincible. I never thought I was but when you have a heater has hot as the one I was on since I started this level you can't help but begin to think you are. Heaters are great, every pair flops a set, every draw hits and you make loads of money. So what's the opposite. Well, a cooler obviously. I don't think I've been on a cooler this week, indeed I have done quite well, but there is definitely an icy front approaching, the last few sessions of this week have certainly been chilly. I even put the central heating on in Pokerlifter Towers to thaw this frost but it's coming...I just have to push through it. One good thing about it is I may be able to grind my way through as the next couple of weeks are going to say an exceptional number of hands registered. You see, those nice folks at Full Tilt Poker have repeated their 'Take 2' promotion from last year and all that needs happen is to play 9 out of the next 10 days and they'll give you a nice $25 bonus. So this means that I need to play every evening bar one this week until next Sunday to get it. Should be easy.
Got an interesting email on Friday from Full Tilt Poker telling me that:
'The Full Tilt security department has recently concluded an extensive investigation and we have determined that some of your opponents were in violation of our site terms. We have permanently closed all of the offending accounts. In cases of proven cheating, 100% of the confiscated funds are returned to the players that were victimized'
That's right! Someone has cheated Pokerlifter out of some of his money! $12.65 to be precise! So this was a nice little bonus and the forums were buzzing with people having got got the same email, some players receiving $1 or $2 whilst others got over $2,000. It would appear that FTP closed down a number of Bot accounts that were plaguing the site. Well done FTP! Really reassuring to see that the integrity of online poker is being maintained.
So, the all important tale of the tape:
Hands: 3,802
Hours: 9.12
BB/100: 0.38
Total Winnings: $1.45
Total Rakeback: $9.17
Reimbursement: $12.65
Total for the week: $23.27
A profitable week once again but a truly dismal amount of volume at the tables. Lowest volume since August 27th and no excuses really. To be fair, I knew the 'Take 2' promotion was coming and that I'd be able to get the volume in there so no big deal. Crucially though, $1.45 is the net sum of my week's poker profits. Not good. Not good at all.
Lifting Weights
Who's that chap in the gym writing notes. Why that's Pokerlifter. Yes, notebook in hand I have been gymming this week and really enjoying it. Sat here feeling pretty stiff and pleased with myself. I mean, I haven't done a 10k run in under an hour or anything amazing like that, but I have had a good week. Crucially though, I have decided to make notes about what I am doing. For the last few weeks I have too often gymmed with no real idea of progress or what I lifted last week/month. So, I've jotted some things down so that when I go next week I know what to lift. There are not a great deal of notes to combine into this blog post right night but I'm hoping there will be next week.
It's really time to get serious about this. Christmas is exactly 9 weeks away. 9 weeks is a great amount of time to truly get into some shape and make some progress. When I write my 2010 summary I will look back on this post with a smile, for today dear reader, is where things have really come together.
I may also be including something new into my week as a motivator and something a bit different. Very near to Pokerlifter Towers is a leisure centre that always has a banner outside advertising a Martial Arts class. This is something that I have always had an interest in and really enjoyed whenever I have done it, however I've never really been able to fit it in around work and my other commitments. However, this one is different as it is on a Thursday evening at 7:30pm or a Saturday morning at 10:30am. Either of which I could do, so watch this space next week as I may well be doing some Kung Fu fighting on here. Maybe it will help with my occasional tendency to go tilt monkey...
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Up, up and away...
Raising Pots
Big week for Pokerlifter this week. Like a phoenix from the flames I raised myself out of $2NL and ascended to the dizzy heights of $5NL. That's right, grind after grind for the last few months culminated in my bankroll hitting $150 giving me 30BIs for $5NL! Yes, I've gone up in limits. Let me talk you through the events that led up to this. Following 2 big winning sessions on Sunday and Monday my BR total in my spreadsheet changed colour (the delights of conditional formatting) telling me that I was rolled for the next level. Cue excitement and trepidation in equal measure. So, I wasn't going to move up initially and I just going to continue at $2NL to ensure that it was my game improvements that had led me here and not just a big heater. However, following some posts on the wonderful cardschat.com I was told that staying at the lower limit was equally as stupid as playing a limit too high for you, so with a wobble in my step and a quiver in my voice I loaded up the $5NL tables and got stuck in. It was strange to see the pot sizes double what I'm used to and was scary at first and losing a few early pots really knocked my confidence. But Pokerlifter regrouped, told himself that he can do it and not focus on the sums of money. They're not important. Play your game and get your money in good and don't be nervous. So, I'm really happy with how the rest of the week panned out. I had some great sessions and played some big hands well (some not so well) but on the whole my fist week at $5NL has been highly successful. I'm keen to temper my enthusiasm with the realisation that I'm running ever so slightly ahead of EV and that there is always a downswing lurking around the corner. However, in the words of Doyle Brunson, "That's Poker folks". I just need to control my emotions at the table and avoid going tilt monkey.
So, the all important tale of the tape:
Hands: 9,173
Hours: 23.05
BB/100: 7.43
Total Winnings: $48.17
Total Rakeback + bonus: $0.87
Total of the week: $49.04
$49.04! Yes, you don't need to adjust your screens. I made a staggering $49.04 this week. $13.34 came from $2NL and $34.83 from $5NL. All this success at the tables resulted in something extremely important happening this week. Pokerlifter became a profitable player. That's right in my poker career since August 2009 I have played a total of 80,119 hands raking in profit of $60.32. This does only equal a very measly 0.96BB/100 however it's important to understand just how important this profit, however small, is. ~90% of players lose money. This blog and all the hard work I put in is to ensure that I am in, and that I remain in, that 10%. You can do this Pokerlifter. We believe in you.
Lifting Weights
I hit this week with renewed vigour for lifting weights. Vigour which is often hard to sustain by 2:30pm when you have woken at 4:30am for a 6am start. However, I was determined to book in my gym time and to start my 100 push-ups challenge. Shock horror I did both. Yes, I managed to get down the gym, albeit it with a lack of structure, and I managed to complete week 1 on the push-up challenge. What is this 100 push-up challenge you ask? Well take a look at this website (www.hundredpushups.com) and give it a go yourself. The idea is that you start of small, week 1 is fairly straight forward, and each week a few more are added as you get stronger. I did this earlier in the summer and did very well with it and the increased strength and definition in my shoulders was very noticeable. However, as is too often the case it fizzled out and after a few false starts at week 4 I decided the only way was to start from scratch. Week 2 starts on Tuesday as tomorrow will be a standard gym day and I'm not doing the gym and push-ups on the same day. So the gym this week revolved around my favourite compound exercises (Squats, Deadlifts, Military Presses, Bench Presses and Bent Rows) with the idea of just building and maintaing all round body strength. I need to get some structure in to my sessions so that I am able to actively record and monitor progress. Watch this space as it is on my to do list and should hopefully make this section of the blog a lot more readable.
Until next time...
Big week for Pokerlifter this week. Like a phoenix from the flames I raised myself out of $2NL and ascended to the dizzy heights of $5NL. That's right, grind after grind for the last few months culminated in my bankroll hitting $150 giving me 30BIs for $5NL! Yes, I've gone up in limits. Let me talk you through the events that led up to this. Following 2 big winning sessions on Sunday and Monday my BR total in my spreadsheet changed colour (the delights of conditional formatting) telling me that I was rolled for the next level. Cue excitement and trepidation in equal measure. So, I wasn't going to move up initially and I just going to continue at $2NL to ensure that it was my game improvements that had led me here and not just a big heater. However, following some posts on the wonderful cardschat.com I was told that staying at the lower limit was equally as stupid as playing a limit too high for you, so with a wobble in my step and a quiver in my voice I loaded up the $5NL tables and got stuck in. It was strange to see the pot sizes double what I'm used to and was scary at first and losing a few early pots really knocked my confidence. But Pokerlifter regrouped, told himself that he can do it and not focus on the sums of money. They're not important. Play your game and get your money in good and don't be nervous. So, I'm really happy with how the rest of the week panned out. I had some great sessions and played some big hands well (some not so well) but on the whole my fist week at $5NL has been highly successful. I'm keen to temper my enthusiasm with the realisation that I'm running ever so slightly ahead of EV and that there is always a downswing lurking around the corner. However, in the words of Doyle Brunson, "That's Poker folks". I just need to control my emotions at the table and avoid going tilt monkey.
So, the all important tale of the tape:
Hands: 9,173
Hours: 23.05
BB/100: 7.43
Total Winnings: $48.17
Total Rakeback + bonus: $0.87
Total of the week: $49.04
$49.04! Yes, you don't need to adjust your screens. I made a staggering $49.04 this week. $13.34 came from $2NL and $34.83 from $5NL. All this success at the tables resulted in something extremely important happening this week. Pokerlifter became a profitable player. That's right in my poker career since August 2009 I have played a total of 80,119 hands raking in profit of $60.32. This does only equal a very measly 0.96BB/100 however it's important to understand just how important this profit, however small, is. ~90% of players lose money. This blog and all the hard work I put in is to ensure that I am in, and that I remain in, that 10%. You can do this Pokerlifter. We believe in you.
Lifting Weights
I hit this week with renewed vigour for lifting weights. Vigour which is often hard to sustain by 2:30pm when you have woken at 4:30am for a 6am start. However, I was determined to book in my gym time and to start my 100 push-ups challenge. Shock horror I did both. Yes, I managed to get down the gym, albeit it with a lack of structure, and I managed to complete week 1 on the push-up challenge. What is this 100 push-up challenge you ask? Well take a look at this website (www.hundredpushups.com) and give it a go yourself. The idea is that you start of small, week 1 is fairly straight forward, and each week a few more are added as you get stronger. I did this earlier in the summer and did very well with it and the increased strength and definition in my shoulders was very noticeable. However, as is too often the case it fizzled out and after a few false starts at week 4 I decided the only way was to start from scratch. Week 2 starts on Tuesday as tomorrow will be a standard gym day and I'm not doing the gym and push-ups on the same day. So the gym this week revolved around my favourite compound exercises (Squats, Deadlifts, Military Presses, Bench Presses and Bent Rows) with the idea of just building and maintaing all round body strength. I need to get some structure in to my sessions so that I am able to actively record and monitor progress. Watch this space as it is on my to do list and should hopefully make this section of the blog a lot more readable.
Until next time...
Sunday, 3 October 2010
That was so sick...
Raising Pots
Week off from the day job this week so didn't plan on playing loads of poker though did hope to get a few thousand hands in. Met up with a very good friend of mine last Saturday which resulted in Sunday being a total wipeout (hence no blog, sorry readers) and no poker either.
So, a week off from work, fantastic! Time for some quality Pokerlifter time. Think again. Monday I woke up with that feeling you get when you know you're getting sick. I couldn't believe it. This seems to happen to me whenever I have some time off from the day job. So, practically my whole week off has been spent inside Pokerlifter Towers staring at the walls. I did play some hands though so I do have something to report on at least.
So, the tale of the week:
Hands: 8,433
Hours: 21.23
BB/100: 1.86
$/hour: $0.30
Total Winnings: $6.29
Total Rakeback + bonus: $20
Total for the week: $26.29
So, a tasty little profit for the week thanks in no small part to those generous folks at Full Tilt Poker giving me a $100 bonus of which $20 I managed to clear - this involved two 7am starts to catch early morning happy hour (whilst feeling unwell) to clear those vital FTP points.
As you will have picked up from my September update, I'm feeling very happy with my game at the moment and, though cautious with my optimism, feel like my understanding of the game has improved vastly. However, there is a cautionary note to my week and one that is good for Pokerlifter's ego to expel these demons. On 30th September, that's right the last day of a highly successful month, I went tilt monkey and donked off nearly half of September's winnings in one horrendous 80 minute session. It all started when calling a UTG raise on the button with KJs and hitting top two pair only for my donkey opponent (playing 39/36) to hit the nut straight!! Cue Phil Hellmuth (whom I met this week) style meltdown and a session graph that looked like this:
Week off from the day job this week so didn't plan on playing loads of poker though did hope to get a few thousand hands in. Met up with a very good friend of mine last Saturday which resulted in Sunday being a total wipeout (hence no blog, sorry readers) and no poker either.
So, a week off from work, fantastic! Time for some quality Pokerlifter time. Think again. Monday I woke up with that feeling you get when you know you're getting sick. I couldn't believe it. This seems to happen to me whenever I have some time off from the day job. So, practically my whole week off has been spent inside Pokerlifter Towers staring at the walls. I did play some hands though so I do have something to report on at least.
So, the tale of the week:
Hands: 8,433
Hours: 21.23
BB/100: 1.86
$/hour: $0.30
Total Winnings: $6.29
Total Rakeback + bonus: $20
Total for the week: $26.29
So, a tasty little profit for the week thanks in no small part to those generous folks at Full Tilt Poker giving me a $100 bonus of which $20 I managed to clear - this involved two 7am starts to catch early morning happy hour (whilst feeling unwell) to clear those vital FTP points.
As you will have picked up from my September update, I'm feeling very happy with my game at the moment and, though cautious with my optimism, feel like my understanding of the game has improved vastly. However, there is a cautionary note to my week and one that is good for Pokerlifter's ego to expel these demons. On 30th September, that's right the last day of a highly successful month, I went tilt monkey and donked off nearly half of September's winnings in one horrendous 80 minute session. It all started when calling a UTG raise on the button with KJs and hitting top two pair only for my donkey opponent (playing 39/36) to hit the nut straight!! Cue Phil Hellmuth (whom I met this week) style meltdown and a session graph that looked like this:
How does one stop this from happening? The truth is I don't know yet. I don't think I tilt like I used to but clearly it still exists in me, I think in some way it does in everyone. You just need to walk away from the computer and relax until you're clear. As I say, I think it helps to have these sessions to remind you how easy it is to put yourself back by a couple of weeks.
Lifting Weights
Clearly being unwell this week has resulted in no gym action. I have nothing to add further from September's update. Finally! A legitimate reason for no gym!
Friday, 1 October 2010
Pokerlifter's September
Raising Pots
Welcome to the second of my monthly updates and I'm pleased to announce that September's is a lot more positive than August's! I'm sure all of my avid readers will remember how August looked but for those of a more casual approach to my blog here's a quick reminder:
Hands: 16,871
Hours: 47.58
BB/100: -0.96
$/hour: -$0.14
Total winnings: -$6.48
Total rakeback + bonus: $26.02
Total for the month: $19.54
So, as we remember August was a positive month thanks to that lovely bonus at Full Tilt Poker and my 27% rakeback. Not a sustainable source of profit as August saw the end of my main "First Deposit" bonus so future profitability would have to rely on actually being a winning player on the virtual felt, something I was keen to improve upon. So improve I feel I did. The first thing I did was openly admit I was a losing player and not able to beat the lowest stakes online, Something that is true for approximately 90% of people playing online poker but not something easily admitted. It was time to check Pokerlifter's ego at the door and face some home truths. So I posted on that wonderful forum cardschat.com and got a ton of positive feedback. The best came from a certain American on there (identity shall remain private here) that offered to sweat me a session. We finally got one setup and arranged and it took place last Sunday. He sweat me for about 90 minutes and although we were cursed with a slow connection and a slight time delay over Skype we managed to get some important thinking points across to me. Not least the rather simple question "Why are you betting?". Easy question hey? I'm playing poker and I have a good hand. Not enough. So, every move and every decision I now make on the felt I can hear his West Virginian twang in my ear saying "Why are you betting here?" and that's not to say it's always the wrong decision, far from it. I just need to constantly justify my decisions to myself and this allows me to think clearer about my opponents range and what he is calling or raising me with. Finally the one thing I have also played carefully is position. Yawn, yawn. Yes, we all know position is vital in poker but how many of us truly utilise it? Well, I'm trying my best to play as few hands out of position as possible and really hammering those limpers that act before me, so far this has been a positive step. Third and finally this month I read, or should that be re-read "Harrington on Cash Games Vol 1". I say re-read because I got this book early in the year and read it and took in approximately zero information from it. So, I read it this month and really attempted to understand it and I found it thoroughly engaging and helpful. Easily dismissed I believe as being too conservative and not relevant to the micro stakes this book does have a lot of information that is relevant and applicable. Sure, the metagame stuff can be ignored for the time being but I still got something out of it. So, Volume 2 sits beside me dear reader as I write this and I shall delve headfirst into that in October. So, enough words Pokerlifter, tell us the tale of the tape...OK, I will and I'm very happy to do so:
Hands: 15,476
Hours: 40.35
BB/100: 3.61
$/hour: $0.55
Total winnings: $22.37
Total rakeback + bonus: $18.08
Total for the month: $40.45
Impressive hey? I think so. Except for going tilt monkey last night and losing $10 I did extremely well this month. Now, I'm not yet getting my Full Tilt Pro badge and challenging Tom Dwan to some heads-up action but nonetheless I'm feeling positive with my play and although officially being rolled for $5NL I'm sticking with $2NL until my play is proven as winning and not just a heater, as I am running slightly (very slightly) above EV.
Lifting Weights
I hate writing this section. Not because it's not relevant or because I don't like this section but because it's shameful and embarrassing. I know some of you love this section and berate me for writing a massive poker section and a small gym one (you know who you are...) but it's just words here. Read up, the poker section is quantifiable...I played this much, I won this much. Graphs, stats, pretty pictures if you want them. But here, it's just me saying I Must do better. Well, I really must do better. Here's the thing. Did I gym this month? Yes. My twitter followers know this. Ask them. It won't take long there's only three of them. But it lacked structure, badly. You can't just go in run, throw some weights around and progress but that's what I'm doing and far from regularly enough. So, here it comes...the big promise. I'm gonna train hard in October. I'm going to devise a schedule this week whilst at work (don't tell my boss) and stick to it. I shall likely begin with Rippetoe and then throw in a few challenges which I like, more than likely the 100 push up challenge which I shall start from week 1. Yes, that's what I'll do.
I shall end September's blog as I did August's with the following threat...
Come on October. What have you got? Back in a month
Welcome to the second of my monthly updates and I'm pleased to announce that September's is a lot more positive than August's! I'm sure all of my avid readers will remember how August looked but for those of a more casual approach to my blog here's a quick reminder:
Hands: 16,871
Hours: 47.58
BB/100: -0.96
$/hour: -$0.14
Total winnings: -$6.48
Total rakeback + bonus: $26.02
Total for the month: $19.54
So, as we remember August was a positive month thanks to that lovely bonus at Full Tilt Poker and my 27% rakeback. Not a sustainable source of profit as August saw the end of my main "First Deposit" bonus so future profitability would have to rely on actually being a winning player on the virtual felt, something I was keen to improve upon. So improve I feel I did. The first thing I did was openly admit I was a losing player and not able to beat the lowest stakes online, Something that is true for approximately 90% of people playing online poker but not something easily admitted. It was time to check Pokerlifter's ego at the door and face some home truths. So I posted on that wonderful forum cardschat.com and got a ton of positive feedback. The best came from a certain American on there (identity shall remain private here) that offered to sweat me a session. We finally got one setup and arranged and it took place last Sunday. He sweat me for about 90 minutes and although we were cursed with a slow connection and a slight time delay over Skype we managed to get some important thinking points across to me. Not least the rather simple question "Why are you betting?". Easy question hey? I'm playing poker and I have a good hand. Not enough. So, every move and every decision I now make on the felt I can hear his West Virginian twang in my ear saying "Why are you betting here?" and that's not to say it's always the wrong decision, far from it. I just need to constantly justify my decisions to myself and this allows me to think clearer about my opponents range and what he is calling or raising me with. Finally the one thing I have also played carefully is position. Yawn, yawn. Yes, we all know position is vital in poker but how many of us truly utilise it? Well, I'm trying my best to play as few hands out of position as possible and really hammering those limpers that act before me, so far this has been a positive step. Third and finally this month I read, or should that be re-read "Harrington on Cash Games Vol 1". I say re-read because I got this book early in the year and read it and took in approximately zero information from it. So, I read it this month and really attempted to understand it and I found it thoroughly engaging and helpful. Easily dismissed I believe as being too conservative and not relevant to the micro stakes this book does have a lot of information that is relevant and applicable. Sure, the metagame stuff can be ignored for the time being but I still got something out of it. So, Volume 2 sits beside me dear reader as I write this and I shall delve headfirst into that in October. So, enough words Pokerlifter, tell us the tale of the tape...OK, I will and I'm very happy to do so:
Hands: 15,476
Hours: 40.35
BB/100: 3.61
$/hour: $0.55
Total winnings: $22.37
Total rakeback + bonus: $18.08
Total for the month: $40.45
Impressive hey? I think so. Except for going tilt monkey last night and losing $10 I did extremely well this month. Now, I'm not yet getting my Full Tilt Pro badge and challenging Tom Dwan to some heads-up action but nonetheless I'm feeling positive with my play and although officially being rolled for $5NL I'm sticking with $2NL until my play is proven as winning and not just a heater, as I am running slightly (very slightly) above EV.
Lifting Weights
I hate writing this section. Not because it's not relevant or because I don't like this section but because it's shameful and embarrassing. I know some of you love this section and berate me for writing a massive poker section and a small gym one (you know who you are...) but it's just words here. Read up, the poker section is quantifiable...I played this much, I won this much. Graphs, stats, pretty pictures if you want them. But here, it's just me saying I Must do better. Well, I really must do better. Here's the thing. Did I gym this month? Yes. My twitter followers know this. Ask them. It won't take long there's only three of them. But it lacked structure, badly. You can't just go in run, throw some weights around and progress but that's what I'm doing and far from regularly enough. So, here it comes...the big promise. I'm gonna train hard in October. I'm going to devise a schedule this week whilst at work (don't tell my boss) and stick to it. I shall likely begin with Rippetoe and then throw in a few challenges which I like, more than likely the 100 push up challenge which I shall start from week 1. Yes, that's what I'll do.
I shall end September's blog as I did August's with the following threat...
Come on October. What have you got? Back in a month
Sunday, 19 September 2010
I have no idea how this week has been...
Raising Pots
So as I mentioned last week, this week I was not going to look at my cashier all week! This was much harder than expected. Especially as Monday was a pretty rough day at the table, how rough who knows? Now, I can see the benefits of it but there were certainly some negatives too. They are however pretty similar. So the benefits are that, on Monday for instance, I had no idea how badly I did so once that session was done I could close the door and move on and come Tuesday's session I wasn't thinking, well I lost x yesterday so need to make that up. No, I was just thinking, well yesterday was bad, I played bad, let's make today better. It was purely black and white. Play bad or play good. So, before I open up PT3 and discover what happened, I'll let you know what I think happened. Generally I think I played bad, the dreaded tilt monster has returned on a couple of occasions this week, I've done so well to combat this lately and don't now why it has returned. I need to focus on this. It was on Wednesday that I sat down and said to myself, you're gonna win today, you're gonna play well and I did. I don't recall getting particularly lucky or having a good run of cards, I just avoided those dangerous marginal spots and valued my better hands against the weaker opponents.
So let's guess at some specifics. I think my week will look like this:
Hands: 4,800
Hours: 12
$/hour: -$0.83
Total winnings: -$10
Total Rakeback: $2.20 (this I know for a fact)
Total for the week: -$7.80
So, I'm now going to look at my results...Drum roll, please.
OK, so surprising results. I knew this week had a lot of swings in it so my graph looks a bit like a rollercaoster. Here's the tale of the week:
Hands: 6,708
Hours: 17.28
$/hour: $0.10
Total winnings: $1.72
Total Rakeback: $2.20
Total for the week: £3.92
Positive!! My week's in the green!! I'm very surprised, thanks in no small part to my two biggest winning sessions ever! One for ~$12 and one for ~$15. No where near as bad as I thought. Will I carry this experiment on? Yes, probably.
So, the big things for this coming week to concentrate on are to keep this trend going and to not tilt off chip like a monkey. I also have a big thing happening tonight which I hope will help...more on that next week!
In other news I railed the WSOPE yesterday and saw some of the legends of the poker world! Mr. Phil Ivey himself, Tom Dwan, Vanessa Rousso, Barry Greenstein, Huck Seed...and some Swedish pro named Sofia Lovgren. Do yourself a favour...look her up!!
Lifting Weights
So as I mentioned last week, this week I was not going to look at my cashier all week! This was much harder than expected. Especially as Monday was a pretty rough day at the table, how rough who knows? Now, I can see the benefits of it but there were certainly some negatives too. They are however pretty similar. So the benefits are that, on Monday for instance, I had no idea how badly I did so once that session was done I could close the door and move on and come Tuesday's session I wasn't thinking, well I lost x yesterday so need to make that up. No, I was just thinking, well yesterday was bad, I played bad, let's make today better. It was purely black and white. Play bad or play good. So, before I open up PT3 and discover what happened, I'll let you know what I think happened. Generally I think I played bad, the dreaded tilt monster has returned on a couple of occasions this week, I've done so well to combat this lately and don't now why it has returned. I need to focus on this. It was on Wednesday that I sat down and said to myself, you're gonna win today, you're gonna play well and I did. I don't recall getting particularly lucky or having a good run of cards, I just avoided those dangerous marginal spots and valued my better hands against the weaker opponents.
So let's guess at some specifics. I think my week will look like this:
Hands: 4,800
Hours: 12
$/hour: -$0.83
Total winnings: -$10
Total Rakeback: $2.20 (this I know for a fact)
Total for the week: -$7.80
So, I'm now going to look at my results...Drum roll, please.
OK, so surprising results. I knew this week had a lot of swings in it so my graph looks a bit like a rollercaoster. Here's the tale of the week:
Hands: 6,708
Hours: 17.28
$/hour: $0.10
Total winnings: $1.72
Total Rakeback: $2.20
Total for the week: £3.92
Positive!! My week's in the green!! I'm very surprised, thanks in no small part to my two biggest winning sessions ever! One for ~$12 and one for ~$15. No where near as bad as I thought. Will I carry this experiment on? Yes, probably.
So, the big things for this coming week to concentrate on are to keep this trend going and to not tilt off chip like a monkey. I also have a big thing happening tonight which I hope will help...more on that next week!
In other news I railed the WSOPE yesterday and saw some of the legends of the poker world! Mr. Phil Ivey himself, Tom Dwan, Vanessa Rousso, Barry Greenstein, Huck Seed...and some Swedish pro named Sofia Lovgren. Do yourself a favour...look her up!!
Lifting Weights
Not such a positive week though I did manage to get two strong sessions and felt good about it and have a positive mental attitude to this coming week!
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Short but effective...
Raising Pots
I had family visiting this week so haven't had much chance to play poker. Only booked three sessions, but they were certainly profitable ones:
The tale of the week:
Hands: 1,518
Hours: 3.93
BB/100: 21.71
$/hour: $3.35
Total winnings: $13.18
Total Rakeback: $0.47
Total for the week: $13.65
So, as you can see it's a shame I couldn't play on a little this week as I had three very good sessions and booked a nice little profit giving my bankroll a boost and an all important positive start to September.
So this week coming I'm on an early shift at work which gives me a good amount of spare time to both study and play a good volume of hands. I really see September as a turning point; I'm confident I can win back all my losses and finally break even. I just need to play consistent winning poker, avoid tilt and importantly book the hours.
Have been reading Dusty Schmidt's book 'Treat Your Poker Like a Business' and one of the concepts I'm going to try this week is to not look at my cashier or my results all week. The thinking is your focus is entirely on playing your best game and not being too results orientated. So when I come back next week and give the tale of the week it will be the first time I have seen it too!
Lifting Weights
Another disappointingly inconsistent week but, again, this was down to having family round and not being able to get a routine going. Should hope to crack on with the 100 push-ups challenge this week and get 3/4 good gym sessions in.
I had family visiting this week so haven't had much chance to play poker. Only booked three sessions, but they were certainly profitable ones:
The tale of the week:
Hands: 1,518
Hours: 3.93
BB/100: 21.71
$/hour: $3.35
Total winnings: $13.18
Total Rakeback: $0.47
Total for the week: $13.65
So, as you can see it's a shame I couldn't play on a little this week as I had three very good sessions and booked a nice little profit giving my bankroll a boost and an all important positive start to September.
So this week coming I'm on an early shift at work which gives me a good amount of spare time to both study and play a good volume of hands. I really see September as a turning point; I'm confident I can win back all my losses and finally break even. I just need to play consistent winning poker, avoid tilt and importantly book the hours.
Have been reading Dusty Schmidt's book 'Treat Your Poker Like a Business' and one of the concepts I'm going to try this week is to not look at my cashier or my results all week. The thinking is your focus is entirely on playing your best game and not being too results orientated. So when I come back next week and give the tale of the week it will be the first time I have seen it too!
Lifting Weights
Another disappointingly inconsistent week but, again, this was down to having family round and not being able to get a routine going. Should hope to crack on with the 100 push-ups challenge this week and get 3/4 good gym sessions in.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Pokerlifter's August
Welcome to the first of my monthly summaries
Raising Pots
So how was August poker-wise? Results wise really not great, though as my posts the last few weeks have stated, I've been happy that I am growing as a player.
So the tale of the tape for cash games is as follows:
Hands: 16,871
Hours: 47.58
BB/100: -0.96
$/hour: -$0.14
Total winnings: -$6.48
Total rakeback + bonus: $26.02
Total for the month: $19.54
So, amazingly a profitable month thanks to rakeback and bonuses. If there was no bonus then the month would be ~-$1. So, with September (and onwards) having no bonuses it will remain to be seen how I will do. In my entire 10month career I have only ever posted 3 positive months. This is going to change.
A quick overview of tournaments. I played 46 tournament's in August for a net loss of -$10.45 or -21.86 %. With 2 1st place finishes 6 2nd and 2 3rd.
Lifting Weights
So, August wasn't great. Good, but not great. Fundamentally August has seen my motivation for t he gym restored. This potential energy now needs to be converted to kinetic so we can see some results. Being fit and healthy will affect my mind for the better and make me a better a poker player, equally positive results on the felt will give me the mindset to work harder.
Come on September. What have you got? Back in a month...
Raising Pots
So how was August poker-wise? Results wise really not great, though as my posts the last few weeks have stated, I've been happy that I am growing as a player.
So the tale of the tape for cash games is as follows:
Hands: 16,871
Hours: 47.58
BB/100: -0.96
$/hour: -$0.14
Total winnings: -$6.48
Total rakeback + bonus: $26.02
Total for the month: $19.54
So, amazingly a profitable month thanks to rakeback and bonuses. If there was no bonus then the month would be ~-$1. So, with September (and onwards) having no bonuses it will remain to be seen how I will do. In my entire 10month career I have only ever posted 3 positive months. This is going to change.
A quick overview of tournaments. I played 46 tournament's in August for a net loss of -$10.45 or -21.86 %. With 2 1st place finishes 6 2nd and 2 3rd.
Lifting Weights
So, August wasn't great. Good, but not great. Fundamentally August has seen my motivation for t he gym restored. This potential energy now needs to be converted to kinetic so we can see some results. Being fit and healthy will affect my mind for the better and make me a better a poker player, equally positive results on the felt will give me the mindset to work harder.
Come on September. What have you got? Back in a month...
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Baby Steps
Raising Pots
So, I ended last week saying that I was determined to come here posting a positive win rate. Well, that ain't gonna happen but I can certainly post here in a positive frame of mind. You see, for although my win rate this week is negative I feel giant steps are being made forward with my game, not the least the understanding in my mind of two core principals that I have attempted to install in my brain this week, they are:
So, I ended last week saying that I was determined to come here posting a positive win rate. Well, that ain't gonna happen but I can certainly post here in a positive frame of mind. You see, for although my win rate this week is negative I feel giant steps are being made forward with my game, not the least the understanding in my mind of two core principals that I have attempted to install in my brain this week, they are:
- Poker is all about small edges
I'm forever chasing that big hand and the big river payoff that I neglect the fact that most of my winning sessions have come from small consistent pots, stealing at the right time, isolating and outplaying. Not getting it all in in a full house over flush situation (though they are sweet). So, to this end stuck as I am approximately $40 in a hole this seems like a mountain to climb, bearing in mind I will see a break even BR at this stage as a huge accomplishment, however, let's break this down, I need only play 20,000 hands (just over one month at my current volume rate) at a smallish +4BB/100 to near enough break even. Winning +4BB/100 seems very small and it is, but see how this accumulates? So, it's the small edges.
- Big hand, big pot; small hand small pot
Another key principal that I overlook. How many times have I had TPTK and thought I'd flopped the world and played it to death? A lot. You only have to see that I'm currently losing , across my entire database, -1.24BB/100 with TT yet still win 60% of the time with it. So maybe you'll be missing value occasionally when you check behind on the river on a scary board when you have the winning hand. Pot control is a new one to me and I can now, more than ever, see why position is so massively important.
So, the tale of the week:
Hands: 3,434
Hours: 13.13
BB/100: -3.99
$/hour - -$0.16
Total winnings: -$5.48
Total rakeback + bonus: $4.79
Total for the week: -$0.69
Lifting Weights
Another good week at the gym Really feeling the motivation for it again now. Went down 3 times this week, so not great but much better, and did a body split consisting of arms and shoulders in one session and back and chest another with squats every session of course. Much like the poker is baby steps right now and look for t he small edge the gym is the same. I can't lift like I could earlier in the year, I'm not as big or as strong. That's frustrating, but I know I can get there and will get there.
Monday, 23 August 2010
Thought Provoking Week
Raising Pots
So, it seems I just can't sustain a winning streak. Have played 8 sessions this week, have won three and lost five. Decided it was time to get some serious help with my game so posted at Cardschat.com that I need help and to say I was overwhelmed by the response would be an understatement. Long story short it was suggested I play a session and record it and post it for people to watch, which is what I did. Although the session was a winning one I got into a few situations that provoked debate, one in particular with a pair of tens that really exposed some weakness in my game. Anyway, there's a lot to be taken from the session most of all to really try and stop playing so tricky. I'm gonna practice ABC poker this week and am determined to com here next Sunday posting a positive winrate.
So, the tale of the week:
Hands: 4,294
Hours: 12.33
BB/100: -6.11
$/hour: -$0.85
Total winnings: -$10.49
Total rakeback + bonus: $11.11
Total for the week: $0.62
Have also been offered a sweat session by a Cardschat regular which I'm really keen to do too as I think this will help to overhaul my game. I'm serious about this you know? I'm not going to be another 'also ran'. I will be a winning player.
Lifting Weights
Back to the gym this week and have to say I loved. Only booked three sessions but sat here now feeling the ache I have to say it's worth it. Am working earlies this week so really hope to get a good three sessions in. It's frustrating starting back and know being as strong or having as much stamina as you're used to but if anything this will spur me on.
Lastly, this is being written on Monday as I have had a extended weekend due to working on Saturday night.
So to summarise, all in all a week of change, a turning point I hope.
So, it seems I just can't sustain a winning streak. Have played 8 sessions this week, have won three and lost five. Decided it was time to get some serious help with my game so posted at Cardschat.com that I need help and to say I was overwhelmed by the response would be an understatement. Long story short it was suggested I play a session and record it and post it for people to watch, which is what I did. Although the session was a winning one I got into a few situations that provoked debate, one in particular with a pair of tens that really exposed some weakness in my game. Anyway, there's a lot to be taken from the session most of all to really try and stop playing so tricky. I'm gonna practice ABC poker this week and am determined to com here next Sunday posting a positive winrate.
So, the tale of the week:
Hands: 4,294
Hours: 12.33
BB/100: -6.11
$/hour: -$0.85
Total winnings: -$10.49
Total rakeback + bonus: $11.11
Total for the week: $0.62
Have also been offered a sweat session by a Cardschat regular which I'm really keen to do too as I think this will help to overhaul my game. I'm serious about this you know? I'm not going to be another 'also ran'. I will be a winning player.
Lifting Weights
Back to the gym this week and have to say I loved. Only booked three sessions but sat here now feeling the ache I have to say it's worth it. Am working earlies this week so really hope to get a good three sessions in. It's frustrating starting back and know being as strong or having as much stamina as you're used to but if anything this will spur me on.
Lastly, this is being written on Monday as I have had a extended weekend due to working on Saturday night.
So to summarise, all in all a week of change, a turning point I hope.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
A Profitable Week...
Raising Pots:
So, I'm able to report my first profitable week at the cash tables, albeit only just over 2 buyins up, profit is profit though right? Combine that with rake back and bonus and I'm up 3 buyins in total. My blind stealing which is still a new and important part of my game has gone well this week to the tune of 9.95BB/100 with a 40% steal attempt, so am happy with that.
Played quite a few SNGs this week too, 29 to be precise. Despite a rather large cash for a 2nd place finish in a 45 SNG I finish here with a rather dismal $10.45 loss with an ROI of -30%. Of the 29 SNGs I cashed in 20%. Have really enjoyed playing these though and they do make a nice change form cash.
Lifting Weights
Another disappointing week. Didn't make the gym though did start my 100 push-ups challenge again from week 3 so woke up this morning a little stiff! Had a revelation on Friday this week though so expect to see this section have a more positive outlook next week!
So, I'm able to report my first profitable week at the cash tables, albeit only just over 2 buyins up, profit is profit though right? Combine that with rake back and bonus and I'm up 3 buyins in total. My blind stealing which is still a new and important part of my game has gone well this week to the tune of 9.95BB/100 with a 40% steal attempt, so am happy with that.
Played quite a few SNGs this week too, 29 to be precise. Despite a rather large cash for a 2nd place finish in a 45 SNG I finish here with a rather dismal $10.45 loss with an ROI of -30%. Of the 29 SNGs I cashed in 20%. Have really enjoyed playing these though and they do make a nice change form cash.
Lifting Weights
Another disappointing week. Didn't make the gym though did start my 100 push-ups challenge again from week 3 so woke up this morning a little stiff! Had a revelation on Friday this week though so expect to see this section have a more positive outlook next week!
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Welcome to a downswing...
Raising Pots
Wow, what a start to August. Have been on a rough ride this week and my graph has taken a nose dive south:
Wow, what a start to August. Have been on a rough ride this week and my graph has taken a nose dive south:
Luck however has not been on my side as you can see below my graph adjusted for EV looks like this:
So my stats for this week are as follows:
Hands: 6,256
Hours played: 16.93
Amount Won: -$7.43
BB/100: -2.97
Rakeback: $0
Bonus: $6
Total for week: -$1.43
So all in all not a great week. I'm generally happy with how I have played but am just getting coolered, looking back at the hands a lot of the time I have got my money in when it is best only to lose to suckout. One positive to take from the week is I feel that I control my tilt a whol lot better than I used to. Sure, I thump the desk and scream and shout but that's it, I'm trying hard, and so far suceeding, to not let it affect my game too much.
I have done a lot of studying this week or trying to add any new concepts into my game except to continue concentrating on my blind stealing. I've done ok, I need to be a maybe a little more selective as this week my attempt to steal is at 48.95 which is quite high and this week I've lost $2.62 in my steal attempts, not good I know but this is a small sample and as you can see since the start of June (when I started this properly) it's worked out ok (approx +$6)
Lifting Weights
Have been working an early shift this week so although that gives me time to go to the gym in the afternoons I elected to grind instead. No gym all week. Not good.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
My Worst Week
Worst week ever this week. Not for poker or lifting reasons but for personal ones.
We lost our darling, beautiful Louis on Wednesday. Sleep tight my friend.
We lost our darling, beautiful Louis on Wednesday. Sleep tight my friend.
Sunday, 25 July 2010
My First Week
I had some unwelcome news from back home this week that has caused a lot of upset and meant that my focus and dedication this week has been way off. This will run into next week too as I will be away for most of it. So, my first week of Raising Pots and Lifting Weights looks like this:
Raising Pots
A mixed week here due to events mentioned earlier I haven't been able to play as I'd wish. Also, software issues meant that this weekend I played no cash games at all. Instead I played some low buy in MTTs for a slight loss (-$0.59). That's eight $0.25 buy-ins with one first place finish for a $2.16 return. Didn't enjoy the MTTs as much as I used to because I think I'm so focused right now on my cash game strategy I wasn't able to adapt very well.
As for the cash games I did play this week, I totaled 4 hours (2 less than the required minimum) for a total, including Rake back of +$10.45 so 5 buy ins up. Played really well and was happy with my game, tried to avoid as many marginal spots as possible and value towned my good hands. Tilt wise happy with how I played.
I was hoping to post some graphs/hands here but my tracking software is down so not able to do that right now.
Lifting Weights
This week went very well fitness wise too, managed to put in three solid training days working on my favoured Rippetoe method of high weight, low rep weight training hitting all the major muscles to give me a complete body work out. Very happy. Total gym time approx 4 hours.
Raising Pots
A mixed week here due to events mentioned earlier I haven't been able to play as I'd wish. Also, software issues meant that this weekend I played no cash games at all. Instead I played some low buy in MTTs for a slight loss (-$0.59). That's eight $0.25 buy-ins with one first place finish for a $2.16 return. Didn't enjoy the MTTs as much as I used to because I think I'm so focused right now on my cash game strategy I wasn't able to adapt very well.
As for the cash games I did play this week, I totaled 4 hours (2 less than the required minimum) for a total, including Rake back of +$10.45 so 5 buy ins up. Played really well and was happy with my game, tried to avoid as many marginal spots as possible and value towned my good hands. Tilt wise happy with how I played.
I was hoping to post some graphs/hands here but my tracking software is down so not able to do that right now.
Lifting Weights
This week went very well fitness wise too, managed to put in three solid training days working on my favoured Rippetoe method of high weight, low rep weight training hitting all the major muscles to give me a complete body work out. Very happy. Total gym time approx 4 hours.
Sunday, 18 July 2010
A new beginning...
Welcome to my blog. The purpose of this blog is to keep me motivated through the next few months as I attempt to accomplish my goals.
I'm a poker player and a weight trainer. At least, I'd like to be. You see, I play poker and I lift weights, neither of the two am I very good at, but that's all going to change. It needs to change.
My plan over the next few months, and hopefully years, is to build two things. Firstly myself and secondly, and no less importantly, my bank balance. Each week I will post on here my accomplishments over the preceding week as I aim to consistently workout in the gym and make physical gains and as I play poker online and hopefully make monetary gains
So, check back in a week to see how things have progressed!
I'm a poker player and a weight trainer. At least, I'd like to be. You see, I play poker and I lift weights, neither of the two am I very good at, but that's all going to change. It needs to change.
My plan over the next few months, and hopefully years, is to build two things. Firstly myself and secondly, and no less importantly, my bank balance. Each week I will post on here my accomplishments over the preceding week as I aim to consistently workout in the gym and make physical gains and as I play poker online and hopefully make monetary gains
So, check back in a week to see how things have progressed!
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