Jumped on for a few hands before getting some sleep, did well, up $20 after 30min. My mindset was much better than when I was playing earlier, I was happy to fold marginal hands when conditions were not right, did some decent blind stealing and most of my cbets hit the mark as well.

The tables are so so different when the aggro US players are all asleep, the passive conditions leave me well within my comfort zone.

Current Bankroll: $405

Hopefully posting these hands will shame me into playing better. They both came after I copped a bad beat with trip jacks. Horay for tilt.

1) What the hell was I thinking?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero ($24.65)
SB ($14.75)
BB ($29.35)
UTG ($18.95)
MP ($33.95)
CO ($28.40)

Preflop: Hero is Button with T, T.
1 fold, MP calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 1 fold, BB calls $0.75, MP calls $0.75.

Flop: ($3.10) 9, 2, T (3 players)
BB checks, MP checks, Hero checks.

Turn: ($3.10) J (3 players)
BB checks, MP checks, Hero bets $2, BB raises to $4, MP calls $4, Hero raises to $11.75, BB raises to $28.35, MP folds, Hero calls $11.90 (All-In).

River: ($59.10) 8 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $59.10

Results:
BB has Kd Qc (straight, king high).
Hero has Ts Td (three of a kind, tens).
Outcome: BB wins $59.10.


2) I made this guys day

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO ($45)
Button ($59.25)
SB ($24.75)
Hero ($24.90)
UTG ($32.05)
MP ($11.05)

Preflop: Hero is BB with T, T.
2 folds, CO raises to $1, Button calls $1, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.75.

Flop: ($3.10) 4, 4, 3 (3 players)
Hero bets $2.5, CO folds, Button raises to $5, Hero calls $2.50.

Turn: ($13.10) A (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $7, Hero raises to $18.9, Button calls $11.90.

River: ($50.90) K (2 players)

Final Pot: $50.90

Results:
Hero has Th Tc (two pair, tens and fours).
Button has 4c Ah (full house, fours full of aces).
Outcome: Button wins $50.90.

Current Bankroll: $335

I came home from work today feeling very determined that I was going to play good poker, the gods were definitely smiling because I made up for last nights indiscretions.

A quick $20 in cash games was followed by three $5 SnGs, winning two and placing third in the other.

I reverted back to playing only 2 tables of NL25 6max at a time, doing any more leads to me set farming rather than actually playing poker, it can be profitable but... I dunno it just feels too mechanical, I would rather be working on making some decent reads, stealing blinds, all the good things.

Most of the players in the $5 SnGs are so easy to read and push around it is almost not fair, I definitely made a few bad mistakes when I was the chip leader on two tables, but managed to pull things back again. Once I get to a heads up situation, I usually feel confident of a win against the average player on those tables.

After 30 tournies I now have an ROI of 60% and a net profit of $120, not too shabby. I will continue to fire up a few SnGs when the cash games are not as juicy, sometimes there are too many tight/aggressive regulars during my prime play hours.

My Biggest Win:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Hero ($24.50)
SB ($6.50)
BB ($7.35)
UTG ($5)
MP ($26.55)
CO ($32.35)

Preflop: Hero is Button with K, K. UTG posts a blind of $0.25.
UTG (poster) raises to $0.5, MP calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero raises to $2.5, SB raises to $6.5, 1 fold, UTG calls $4.50 (All-In), MP folds, Hero calls $4.

Flop: ($18.75) 4, A, 7 (3 players, 1 all-in)

Turn: ($18.75) 8 (3 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($18.75) Q (3 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $18.75

Results:
SB has 5h 5s (flush, queen high).
UTG has Js Jh (flush, queen high).
Hero has Ks Kh (flush, king high).
Outcome: Hero wins $18.75.

My Biggest Loss:

I don't mind this hand really, so many times he would have had an underpair or weaker Q...

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (5 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($12.85)
MP ($9.50)
Button ($24.05)
Hero ($26.65)
BB ($24.35)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Q, K.
UTG calls $0.25, MP calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1) 7, 2, Q (4 players)
Hero bets $0.95, BB folds, UTG folds, MP calls $0.95.

Turn: ($2.90) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $2, MP calls $2.

River: ($6.90) 3 (2 players)
Hero bets $3, MP calls $3.

Final Pot: $12.90

Results:
MP has Ad Qh (two pair, queens and twos).
Hero has Qd Ks (two pair, queens and twos).
Outcome: MP wins $12.90.

Current Bankroll: $400

Entered a $5 rebuy MTT on stars this morning, got past the first break in tact with a smallish stack and was waiting for a chance to make some moves. Lovely KK comes to me UTG, then the most painful suckout I have had to date:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t200 (9 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

CO (t12285)
Button (t6510)
SB (t1855)
BB (t10730)
Hero (t5185)
UTG+1 (t12775)
MP1 (t4970)
MP2 (t6585)
MP3 (t22485)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with K, K.
Hero raises to t600, 2 folds, MP2 raises to t1200, 4 folds, BB calls t1000, Hero raises to t5185, MP2 calls t3985, BB folds.

Flop: (t11670) T, 3, 7 (2 players)

Turn: (t11670) 7 (2 players)

River: (t11670) Q (2 players)

Final Pot: t11670

Results:
Hero has Ks Kd (two pair, kings and sevens).
MP2 has Qh Qc (full house, queens full of sevens).
Outcome: MP2 wins t11670.

At least I have been doing well in cash games today.

Current Bankroll: $440

Well, after playing most of the day I am ahead a measly $20 once again. I had real issues with my discipline today, making some bluff plays when there is really no need to do so, calling a couple of pushes when I should have folded and other such rubbish.

Really the only difference between me and the majority of players who are losing money at 25NL is that I am able to capatalise better on my strong hands thanks to the advice on these forums.

I have stretches where I play really good poker, take control of the table and have the discipline to fold hands when I know I am beat. Eventually I tend to get into the wrong mindset and push too hard, I think shorter sessions may be the solution.

My worst hand from today is a lesson in how NOT to play AA, villian is a solid TAG:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($25)
BB ($27.85)
UTG ($10.85)
MP ($19.10)
Hero ($24.05)
Button ($9.60)

Preflop: Hero is CO with A, A.
UTG calls $0.25, MP calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.25, 2 folds, BB calls $1, UTG calls $1, MP folds.

Flop: ($4.10) 6, 5, 4 (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $3, BB raises to $26.6, UTG folds, Hero calls $19.80 (All-In).

Turn: ($53.50) 7 (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($53.50) 4 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $53.50

Results:
BB has 5h 5s (full house, fives full of fours).
Hero has As Ah (two pair, aces and fours).
Outcome: BB wins $53.50.


Actually, come to think of it this hand is even worse, I tried to push a player off a hand who was showing strength, terrible terrible play on my part:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

MP ($10.10)
CO ($5.40)
Hero ($24.90)
SB ($13.10)
BB ($15.10)
UTG ($29.20)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 7, 7.
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, CO calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.5, SB calls $1.40, 1 fold, UTG calls $1.25, CO folds.

Flop: ($5) 6, K, 4 (3 players)
SB checks, UTG bets $2, Hero raises to $5, SB folds, UTG raises to $12, Hero raises to $23.4, UTG calls $11.40.

Turn: ($51.80) K (2 players)

River: ($51.80) 8 (2 players)

Final Pot: $51.80

Results:
UTG has 6d 6h (full house, sixes full of kings).
Hero has 7s 7h (two pair, kings and sevens).
Outcome: UTG wins $51.80.

Despite these and a few other really bad hands, I did pick up lots of small and med sized pots today, it is a positive thing that I am not reliant on a couple of huge hands to keep the bankroll moving forward I guess.

Current Bankroll: $460

Yeah I often fall into a trap of trying to put some moves on people who just wont get it

I think the AA case was a classic example of a place to fold them, I knew the guy was solid, he is a 19/9 after 150 hands and I never saw him make a mistake. Unless I have a specific read, I would prefer to fold one pair rather than risk my stack on calling an all in. Now I need to ensure I follow my own beliefs in the heat of battle.

So I hit a bankroll of $500 and decided to sit down at an NL50 table on pokerstars for a while, NL25 can be really really tight in the evenings here in Australia, so I figured even if I blow one buyin at NL50 it wont be the end of the world.

First hand at the table, I get a beautiful AKs in the BB (Biggest Win):

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (5 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($49.50)
MP ($54.85)
Button ($95.70)
SB ($55.45)
Hero ($50)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, K.
2 folds, Button raises to $1.5, 1 fold, Hero raises to $4, Button calls $2.50.

Flop: ($8.25) K, 2, 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets $1.5, Hero raises to $6, Button calls $4.50.

Turn: ($20.25) 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $13, Button calls $13.

River: ($46.25) 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $27 (All-In), Button calls $27.

Final Pot: $100.25

Results:
Hero has Ac Kc (flush, ace high).
Button has Ks As (two pair, kings and twos).
Outcome: Hero wins $100.25.

Only a few hands later, I was convinced I was about to be up almost two buyins, then the bad beat train came steaming down the tunnel (Biggest Loss):

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (6 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($65.90)
SB ($50)
BB ($54.35)
UTG ($33.15)
MP ($52.90)
Hero ($98)

Preflop: Hero is CO with K, K.
UTG raises to $2.5, 1 fold, Hero raises to $7, 3 folds, UTG calls $4.50.

Flop: ($14.75) 5, J, 7 (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $11, UTG raises to $26.15, Hero calls $15.15.

Turn: ($67.05) T (2 players)

River: ($67.05) 9 (2 players)

Final Pot: $67.05

Results:
UTG has Js 8c (straight, jack high).
Hero has Ks Kh (one pair, kings).
Outcome: UTG wins $67.05.

Turned out the villain in both cases was a total loose maniac calling station of an ATM, and I soon recovered the chips.

I am going to keep having a stab at NL50 for a while, if I drop below $500 ill be back at NL25 until I get a more suitable bankroll, but in the meantime the play at the tables actually seems easier, a lot of passive short stacks and people calling large bets on their draws.

Played a bit longer on a second table, up two buyins for the evening.

Current Bankroll: $572

Running hot tonight, just had another quick winning session. The level of play is definitely much worse at NL50 than NL25 at this time of night, people are prepared to stack off with top pair/weak kicker to my fairly obvious flush.

I think the fact that the amount of money actually means something to me now is helping with my focus as well. Fingers crossed the hot run continues tomorrow, time for sleep...

Current Bankroll: $640

very very nice run.. I cashed out most of my roll and am now back down to 10NL and 5.50 sngs

50NL probably does play weaker than 25nl at stars - however, swings can still be pretty big if you multitable. Just playing 1 or 2 as you do you'll probably be perfect

Had a fairly average session tonight, I was somewhat card dead for the most part and spewed a few chips around needlessly, however I ended up around $30 ahead for the evening.

There were a couple of people around tonight who were either exceptionally good, or exceptionally lucky LAG style players, makes the games somewhat difficult, much prefer the loose preflop and passive/calling station postflop crowd. I guess being around LAGs is better when you flop a few more big hands than I did tonight.

Biggest Winner:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (4 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

SB ($36.45)
Hero ($53)
UTG ($81.15)
Button ($6.65)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A, T.
UTG raises to $1.5, 2 folds, Hero raises to $4, UTG calls $2.50.

Flop: ($8.25) K, 6, T (2 players)
Hero bets $4, UTG calls $4.

Turn: ($16.25) A (2 players)
Hero bets $10, UTG calls $10.

River: ($36.25) 9 (2 players)
Hero bets $35 (All-In), UTG calls $35.

Final Pot: $106.25

Results:
Hero has Ac Td (two pair, aces and tens).
UTG has 6s As (two pair, aces and sixes).
Outcome: Hero wins $106.25.

I was mildly concerned about AK here, but given the villains aggression shown previously, I felt he would have 3bet me preflop with such a starting hand.


Biggest Loser:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (4 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

BB ($76)
UTG ($31.10)
Hero ($75.65)
SB ($53.40)

Preflop: Hero is Button with T, A.
UTG calls $0.50, Hero raises to $2, 2 folds, UTG calls $1.50.

Flop: ($4.75) 9, 2, T (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $3.8, UTG raises to $12.5, Hero calls $8.70.

Turn: ($29.75) 4 (2 players)
UTG bets $16.6 (All-In), Hero calls $16.60.

River: ($62.95) 5 (2 players, 1 all-in)

Final Pot: $62.95

Results:
UTG has 9c Td (two pair, tens and nines).
Hero has Tc Ad (one pair, tens).
Outcome: UTG wins $62.95.

I really really should have laid this hand down after the flop reraise, after that I was committed really. I must remember that maniacs can flop big hands just like the rest of us

Current Bankroll: $670

Didn't get a chance to play much poker today, but the couple of hours I got in showed some good results.

I dropped back to playing NL25 since the NL50 tables were looking fairly tight. I am happy enough to play whichever game has the juiciest table right now, and boy did I find a good one.

Picture this, you have position on two TAGs with the two loosest ATMs you have ever seen sitting to your left. These two fishies both had 90% VPIP and 3% PFR with a low aggression factor, one couldn't let go of any pair but never bet without a hand or draw, the other just bluffed away their money. Best of all, they lucked out against the TAGs on the table many times, before shifting those chips right over my way

At one point one of the fish was berating the other and informing them of what a terrible player they were, most amusing. After each went bust I endeavored to get them to rebuy, unsure if my influence made a difference but they did hang around, no doubt the other decent players at the table were thanking me as we continued to make cash withdrawals.

Best of all I didn't make any major mistakes today, one or two marginally bad decisions, but overall its rather pleasing.


Biggest Loss

I should have put them all in on the turn, however I don't feel the result would have been any different here as they would have called.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

Button ($8.80)
SB ($30.65)
BB ($25)
UTG ($52.10)
Hero ($24.50)
CO ($12.05)

Preflop: Hero is MP with A, A.
1 fold, Hero raises to $1, 1 fold, Button calls $1, 2 folds.

Flop: ($2.35) J, 3, A (2 players)
Hero bets $1.9, Button calls $1.90.

Turn: ($6.15) 5 (2 players)
Hero bets $2.5, Button calls $2.50.

River: ($11.15) Q (2 players)
Hero bets $19.1 (All-In), Button calls $3.40 (All-In).

Final Pot: $33.65

Results:
Hero has As Ad (three of a kind, aces).
Button has Td Ks (straight, ace high).
Outcome: Button wins $17.95. Hero wins $15.70.


Biggest Win

I expected to see MP on A8 after his small flop raise, but decided to hang around and see what came out next since the two fish were still involved. Did I luck out here? I dunno, but I like the result.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (5 handed) from (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

UTG ($29.20)
MP ($29.40)
Button ($40.10)
Hero ($30.50)
BB ($29.10)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 8, 9.
UTG calls $0.25, MP calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($1) 6, 4, 8 (4 players)
Hero bets $0.95, BB calls $0.95, UTG calls $0.95, MP raises to $1.9, Hero calls $0.95, BB calls $0.95, UTG calls $0.95.

Turn: ($8.60) 9 (4 players)
Hero bets $5, BB folds, UTG calls $5, MP calls $5.

River: ($23.60) Q (3 players)
Hero bets $23.35 (All-In), UTG folds, MP calls $22.25 (All-In).

Final Pot: $69.20

Results:
MP has 6d 8d (two pair, eights and sixes).
Hero has 8c 9c (two pair, nines and eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $69.20.

Current Bankroll: $730