After THOROUGHLY ENJOYING reading the journal here of an online pro who specializes in Limit Hold'em, cooking great food, and of course lichens and mosses , I've decided that I would like to try the whole journal thing. Don't know how many HH's I'll be posting but I am going to try and keep the daily (or semi-daily) wins and losses totaled here in public so I have more incentive to become a solid player.

I started playing online poker for real money March 1st, 2005 with a $25 deposit at UB and a $40 deposit at Bodog. I ended up losing that $25 at UB and redeposited another $25 which I ultimately lost as well. The $40 at bodog however, ended up snowballing into almost $2100 at about 18 different sites by the end of the year. I guess maybe it's safe to say that I have learned a thing or two about this game and I would have to admit that a good portion of that learning came from BTP and the great posters that we have in this forum. Of course reading books helped as well.

I started out playing NL because that is what I saw everyone on tv was playing and that's what I knew at the time. I managed to take the $40 and work it up to $500 playing NL strictly at Bodog with no bonuses other than the inital one. Then I read about bonus whoring and thought I would very much like to try that. So, I opened 2 Crypto accounts, 1 at William Hill and the other at Poker Plex so I could play NL 100 to get all that "easy" money that people were talking about. Heh, I had never played higher than NL25 at that point and over the course over ONE day I lost 60% of my $500 bankroll. I was sick to my stomach and quit playing for about 3 days because of this. Then I decided that I would put my tail between my legs and go back to my games at Bodog that I knew I could beat. I ground it out until the roll was back up to $500 and decided to join Party Poker to get the $100 bonus. Bought PokerTracker about that time as well and started using Poker Ace HUD too and easily cleared that bonus plus a bit of profit. Did that over and over at some of the other sites since then and now have a nice little bankroll to play with.

Around September, I got some VERY bad financial news and had to withdraw some of the roll to help with that. It also became apparent after reading some of the journals here, that if I could ever get to high enough stakes playing poker that I would be able to help my financial situation at home a LOT! It was at this time that I decided to make the switch to Limit poker as that seemed to me to be a safer way of clearing bonuses and building the bankroll to the amounts needed to play those higher stakes. I had been reading Piersmajestyk's journal and he seemed to be quite successful playing Limit in a style that has VERY low variance. That sealed it for me. Since then, with his help and the help of many of you here (whether you knew it or not), I have gotten to be a halfway decent player who turns a profit while clearing the bonuses. I'm hoping that 2006 will see me get to the games at the 5/10 stakes by the end of the year. If that happens, my bankroll should be big enough to withstand a monthly withdrawal for household use as well as sustain the limits I want to play at and still increase at the same time. I just hope I am able to put in the hours that I have been able to in the past year.

So, here goes:

January: 124.75 hours, 12120 hands,


February: 129.07 hours, 10815 hands,

March: 223.56 hours, 15605 hands,





May: 186.34 Total Table Hours, 12745 hands,


June: 123.96 hours, 8392 hands,

July 2006:
1: 2 sessions: 9.5 hours, 400 hands, $186.00 (live play + slots)
2: 2 sessions: 9.72 hours, 649 hands, $629.90 (took 3rd in tourney for the majority of it)
3: 2 sessions: 6.07 hours, 439 hands, $102.92
4: 3 sessions, 4.33 hours, 259 hands, $16.65
5: 1 session, 4.47 hours, 469 hands, -$334.55
6: 2 sessions, 2.42 hours, 208 hands, $199.07 (281.32 from BJ)
7: 1 session, 2.97 hours, 170 hands, $163.00 (3.50 from BJ)





YTD$: $3074.31
YTD TOTAL TABLE HOURS played: 1069.50
YTD hands: 78453
Current Winning Streak: 2 days (started on 7/6)
Longest Winning Streak: 19 days (1/10 thru 1/28)
Biggest Winning Day Total: $629.90 (7-02-06)
Biggest Losing Day Total: -$535.05 (5-29-06)

forum/viewtopic.php?t=8401&highlight=
I had to put this somewhere so i can find it easier since I like to look at it so much.

Starting the year out on the wrong side of the variance fence it would seem. Couple of losers for ya to peruse. Maybe I haven't learned as much as I thought.

$1/$2 Texas Hold'em - Sunday, January 01, 16:31:26 EDT 2006
Table Table 30081 (6 max) (Real Money)
Seat 4 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 5: ike4523 ( $38.56 )
Seat 6: CompAdvrsary ( $38.25 )
Seat 1: Seb ( $37.50 )
Seat 2: elvisjonas1 ( $48.24 )
Seat 4: WELO33 ( $42.61 )
CompAdvrsary posts small blind [$0.50].
Seb posts big blind [$1].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Seb [4s]
elvisjonas1 calls [$1].
WELO33 folds.
CompAdvrsary folds.
Seb raises [$1].
elvisjonas1 calls [$1].
** Dealing Flop ** , ,
Seb bets [$1].
Texasgosse has joined the table.
elvisjonas1 raises [$2].
Seb raises [$2].
elvisjonas1 raises [$2].
Seb calls [$1].
** Dealing Turn **
Seb bets [$2].
elvisjonas1 calls [$2].
** Dealing River **
Seb bets [$2].
elvisjonas1 raises [$4].
Seb raises [$4].
elvisjonas1 raises [$4].
Seb calls [$2].
elvisjonas1 shows , a full house, Queens full of aces.
Seb doesn't show , a full house, Fours full of queens.
elvisjonas1 wins $31.50 from the main pot with a full house, Queens full of aces.


$1/$2 Texas Hold'em - Sunday, January 01, 17:08:32 EDT 2006
Table Table 30081 (6 max) (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Seb ( $75.25 )
Seat 2: ox_chi ( $29 )
Seat 3: Texasgosse ( $64.25 )
Seat 6: CompAdvrsary ( $64.12 )
Seat 5: mrBonito ( $12.25 )
Seat 4: bluebirdont ( $9.75 )
bluebirdont posts small blind [$0.50].
mrBonito posts big blind [$1].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Seb [Ad]
CompAdvrsary folds.
Seb raises [$2].
ox_chi folds.
Texasgosse folds.
bluebirdont folds.
mrBonito calls [$1].
** Dealing Flop ** ,[9d],[7s]
mrBonito bets [$1].
Seb calls [$1].
** Dealing Turn **
mrBonito bets [$2].
Seb calls [$2].
** Dealing River **
mrBonito bets [$2].
Seb calls [$2].
mrBonito shows ,[8c] a straight, five to nine.
Seb doesn't show ,[Ad] high card ace.
mrBonito wins $13.75 from the main pot with a straight, five to nine.


$1/$2 Texas Hold'em - Sunday, January 01, 17:42:13 EDT 2006
Table Table 30081 (6 max) (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Seb ( $87.25 )
Seat 2: ox_chi ( $23.75 )
Seat 3: Texasgosse ( $67 )
Seat 5: Jim_jnr ( $90 )
Seat 6: WeirdianFish ( $49.50 )
Seat 4: bxnemesis16 ( $38.75 )
ox_chi posts small blind [$0.50].
Texasgosse posts big blind [$1].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Seb
Jim_jnr folds.
WeirdianFish folds.
Seb raises [$2].
ox_chi folds.
Texasgosse calls [$1].
** Dealing Flop ** ,[8c],[Qc]
Texasgosse checks.
Seb bets [$1].
Texasgosse calls [$1].
** Dealing Turn **
Texasgosse checks.
Seb bets [$2].
Texasgosse calls [$2].
** Dealing River **
Texasgosse checks.
Seb bets [$2].
Texasgosse raises [$4].
Seb calls [$2].
Texasgosse shows , a straight, six to ten.
Seb doesn't show , three of a kind, tens.
Texasgosse wins $17.75 from the main pot with a straight, six to ten.

Hand 1: I'm fine with that, its a well disguised runner runner for him, especially with the limp he's just pretty lucky.

Hand 3: Fine as well, just unlucky.

Hand 2: You shouldn't be callign the flop here, raise or fold. You have position here, use it. Calling is bad in my opinion, you have to up the aggression, maybe this is why your numbers were reversed before in terms of aggression rising towards the river.

I agree Golden1. Hand #2 was questionable in my opinion as well. Afterwards I wondered whether or not he would have folded had I raised the flop, I feel I definitely should have raised, but after watching him play more I doubt he would have so I'm glad I only lost as much as I did. I honestly did not expect to see him with 58 and i thought there was a good chance my Ace high was good there.

The New Years Day list of suckouts grows ever longer. Seems my Sets don't hold up today even when they turn into Boats.


$1/$2 Texas Hold'em - Sunday, January 01, 18:46:24 EDT 2006
Table Table 30081 (6 max) (Real Money)
Seat 2 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Seb ( $64.75 )
Seat 5: Jim_jnr ( $97 )
Seat 6: lillypad24 ( $73.75 )
Seat 2: jueles58 ( $17.25 )
Seat 4: PAUL668 ( $21.75 )
Seat 3: mjzap721 ( $47 )
mjzap721 posts small blind [$0.50].
PAUL668 posts big blind [$1].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Seb
Jim_jnr calls [$1].
lillypad24 calls [$1].
Seb raises [$2].
jueles58 folds.
mjzap721 calls [$1.50].
PAUL668 calls [$1].
Jim_jnr calls [$1].
lillypad24 calls [$1].
** Dealing Flop ** , ,
mjzap721 bets [$1].
PAUL668 calls [$1].
Jim_jnr calls [$1].
lillypad24 raises [$2].
Seb raises [$3].
mjzap721 calls [$2].
PAUL668 folds.
Jim_jnr folds.
lillypad24 calls [$1].
** Dealing Turn **
mjzap721 checks.
lillypad24 checks.
Seb bets [$2].
mjzap721 calls [$2].
lillypad24 calls [$2].
** Dealing River **
mjzap721 checks.
lillypad24 checks.
Seb checks.
mjzap721 shows , a pair of nines.
lillypad24 shows , a straight, five to nine.
Seb doesn't show ,[Jc] a pair of jacks.
lillypad24 wins $26 from the main pot with a straight, five to nine.


$1/$2 Texas Hold'em - Sunday, January 01, 19:00:47 EDT 2006
Table Table 30081 (6 max) (Real Money)
Seat 3 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: Seb ( $61.75 )
Seat 5: Jim_jnr ( $86.50 )
Seat 6: lillypad24 ( $72.75 )
Seat 3: mjzap721 ( $69 )
Seat 2: verb2 ( $50 )
Seat 4: Snevar ( $0 )
Jim_jnr posts small blind [$0.50].
lillypad24 posts big blind [$1].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Seb [2d]
Seb calls [$1].
Snevar has joined the table.
verb2 calls [$1].
mjzap721 calls [$1].
Jim_jnr calls [$0.50].
lillypad24 checks.
** Dealing Flop ** , ,
Jim_jnr checks.
lillypad24 checks.
Seb bets [$1].
verb2 folds.
mjzap721 calls [$1].
Jim_jnr folds.
lillypad24 calls [$1].
** Dealing Turn **
lillypad24 bets [$2].
Seb raises [$4].
mjzap721 raises [$6].
lillypad24 raises [$6].
Seb calls [$4].
mjzap721 calls [$2].
** Dealing River **
lillypad24 checks.
Seb bets [$2].
mjzap721 raises [$4].
lillypad24 calls [$4].
Seb calls [$2].
mjzap721 shows , a full house, Tens full of queens.
lillypad24 shows , a straight, ten to ace.
Seb doesn't show , a full house, Twos full of tens.
mjzap721 wins $43 from the main pot with a full house, Tens full of queens.

Continued good fortune this year Derek.

I don't have a problem with hand 1 and 3 either, just unfortunate beats. Hand 2 I also agree that you need to raise that up or less likely fold. If you don't hit the double gut shot on turn or an Ace you would have the option to check it most likely (in this case probably 100% chance if you raised the flop) and see what the river brought. IF you plan on calling down with Ace high then a bet on the turn when you pick up your gut shot is the best as you can then check the river if you miss and bet if you hit. If you check the turn with the intention of calling the river unimproved you stand to lose the same 1 Big Bet without the benefit of gaining more when your hand improves. Hope that makes some sense.

I am no SH guru so it will be interesting to hear what MK and Xas have to think about playing 22 here UTG. I am generaly not playing the small pairs 22-55 in the first two positions but when I do I am coming in with a raise. Most of the time you just aren't going to get all of the folks behind you to come along to make your call correct preflop. Much better in my opinion to either steal the blinds here with a raise or hopefully at least get it HU with just the BB in my opinion with position.

Looking forward to reading your journal.

I'm such a donkey! But it still felt great to finally do unto others as has been done to me today!
Seriously though, I do NOT make a habit of making plays like this and I don't plan on doing it in the future but this guy was an asshole and deserved it.
I've heard Donkeys can get laid if they go to tijuana.


$1/$2 Texas Hold'em
Table Table 31042 (6 max) (Real Money)
Seat 1 is the button
Total number of players : 5
Seat 1: Seb ( $64.37 )
Seat 2: Tree_Tree ( $78 )
Seat 5: LANEOH ( $76.13 )
Seat 6: Ryanj001 ( $64.65 )
Seat 3: comin24 ( $17.97 )
Tree_Tree posts small blind [$0.50].
comin24 is sitting out.
LANEOH posts big blind [$1].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to Seb [Kc]
comin24 has left the table.
Ryanj001 folds.
Seb raises [$2].
Tree_Tree calls [$1.50].
LANEOH calls [$1].
** Dealing Flop ** , ,
Tree_Tree checks.
LANEOH bets [$1].
Seb calls [$1].
Tree_Tree folds.
** Dealing Turn **
LANEOH bets [$2].
babamama has joined the table.
Seb calls [$2].
** Dealing River **
LANEOH bets [$2].
Seb raises [$4].
LANEOH calls [$2].
Seb shows , a full house, Jacks full of sevens.
LANEOH doesn't show , two pairs, aces and jacks.
Seb wins $19 from the main pot with a full house, Jacks full of sevens.

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice guys. I didn't actually think this journal would get much attention so quickly. I would be interested in hearing from the SH gurus here on the hand I had 22 UTG.

As for my first day totals. Not what I was hoping would happen for the first day of the year. First session went much longer than I had planned because I was doggedly determined to make it back to even for the day before I quit. Unfortunately, that was not meant to be as some of the HH's I posted above are just a few of the many that went that way today. The 2nd session went much better but I was only able to make back a portion of what I lost in the 1st session. I played solid overall I believe and I hope this was just variance. Hopefully tomorrow will be much better.

OK, I'll try to do this like Piers does since it's easy for me to understand.

Empire-2 sessions- 1/2 limit 6 max, 451 hands, -$30.38
Rake: 0
Various: 0
Raked hands cleared toward $100 bonus: 224 out of 1000
---------------------------------------
Total: -$30.38
Time: 4h 37m

Hey ya bastard... Thanks for that SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET Cowboys pick in my suicide pool... MEH!!!!!!!

Did i tell you to pick the 'boys this week? I don't remember doing that.

Yeah, The Cowboys let me down tonight. I don't think I'm going to bet on them any more this season.