The A Train - From the micro limits to Heads Up sng's

[The A Train]

I've been reading these journals and find them both entertaining and interesting so I hope that someone gets something out of this journal. If nothing else putting into words what and how I'm doing might help me become a better player.
I am a married man with 2 children aged 2 years and 6 months so time spent playing is limited due to family considerations. As you may have guessed I am a train driver by occupation in a small town (500 people) in central Queensland, Australia. We haul coal in trains that are 2 kilometres long (about 1.6 miles).
I always played Blackjack whenever I went to the Casino in Brisbane. I could count a bit so enjoyed the mental challenge and the small amount that I won. Have never played poker in a casino or a home game.
My first interest in poker came about through watching Late Night Poker, a British show which has got a lot of Australians interested in Holdem. So about 6 months ago I took the plunge and opened an online account with Ultimatebet. I started off playing a lot of free sit and goes and free tournaments and had a fair bit of success so started playing in the $1 sng's. I kept on winning so progressed to the $5 sng's with the same results. I had built my bankroll from $100 to $200 so I took out $100 and put that into Full Tilt when they first opened.
I doubled my bankroll again by playing sng's so I opened an account with Ladbrokes to get some tournament practice. They have a lot of $1 tourneys and $3.50 tourneys.
Then about a month ago I discovered BTP and PT. I purchased PT the same day that I heard about it and started playing NL at the micro tables on UB. I had tried before but could never win. PT and the good advice on BTP have changed that around. In the last month I have made $120 at the $10 tables at UB. 12 buy ins in a month is very good for me considering the limited time that I get to play.
Have been ready the Monks articles on Omaha and have started playing it as well. Breaking even with it but the bonus dollars are turning this into a marginally profitable excercise. Not bad if you can come out in front whilst learning the game.
So that's my story up till now.

Bankroll on 1/5/05 was $959
Bankroll on 8/5/05 was $1148 for a profit of $189 for the week.
Bankroll on 15/5/05 is $1235 for a profit of $87 for the week.

My short term aim is to make $100 a week playing poker. I have done this over the last two weeks but have had an extraordinarily good run so don't expect this profit to keep up playing at the levels that I am currently. I plan to gradually move up as my bankroll increases and my confidence and ability grow - whenever that might be. If I can consistently make $100 a week within the next 12 months I will be very happy. Not many hobbies that pay there own way so if I can show a profit and have fun - Bonus!!!

Have had a very good month so far. Have been playing $1 sng's on UB. $5 sng's on Full Tilt (which seem to be easier than the $1 games on UB). Have played in a few freerolls on UB and a $5 MTT which I finished 3rd out of 122 in and have played a few $5 sng's on Ladbrokes (8 seaters) and $1 MTT tournaments on Ladbrokes. Also played a lot of NL at the $10 tables at UB and Omaha at the $25 tables on UB.
Looking at all that I wonder when I went to work.

[The A Train]

I have been pretty busy at work this week so I haven't played as much as I would of hoped. I played in a few $5 sng's on Full Tilt and Ladbrokes and came out marginally in front. I also played a few hours of $10 NL holdem on UB and $25 Omaha on UB. Into my second week of Omaha and whilst I am in front I have made a lot of boneheaded plays which have cost me several buy ins. Yet I still showed a profit. Have split a lot of big pots where I had the nuts on the turn with a chance to improve on the river. One or two of these going my way during the week would of really boosted my profits for the week. So after about 10 hours of play I am up $99 for the week which is a pleasant surprise.

I had hoped to average $100 profit per week over the next 12 months and at this stage I think that this is a realistic goal with my bankroll and work and family commitments.

Have just finished reading "championship Omaha" which has helped me a fair bit but I am interested in reading more on Pot Limit Omaha cash games. If anyone can recommend a good book/s i would appreciate it. I still don't know when I have the odds to call a pot sized bet when I have top trips against a made flush etc. So sometimes I feel I'm folding when I should be calling or calling when maybe I should reraise. As I said earlier, I am making some really bad plays and feel that my profit will increase as I learn how to play this game.
My main thinking behind playing Pot Limit Omaha over NL holdem is that it is much easier for me to multitable playing Omaha, which is a great way to work off the bonus dollars on UB. About 25% of my profit this week has come through these bonus dollars so it is a substantial amount for me and has made up for a few of my mistakes. To work off the same bonuses playing NL holdem I would of had to play for considerably longer.
Am looking to start playing on Party and Poker Stars soon but am waiting for a bonus before depositing cash. Have still got nearly $200 bonus to work off on UB so I can wait a while.
So that is my progress for this week. It felt like I played sub par on a few occasions but I am still very happy with the end result.

[SideSwipe]

[piersmajestyk]

[bobby]

Hey Train

If you feel confident enough in your game, do what Piers suggests and check out the Crypto sites (Interpoker/Pokerplex/WilliamHill/UKBetting etc) They have bonuses that are pretty easily cleared, and can help that BR grow...The games are pretty tough overall, but it seems like there is usually a fish or 2 around that will call you down when you have the nuts!! The games are NOT great, but if you play123/ABC and keep your V%IP around 14 or less ( LOL I should talk), it is a great training ground...To get the bonuses, you have to play 1/2 at most of the Cryptos, but I cleared my 90 at Interpoker playing 50 cent/dollar this month...
Good Luck
B

[The A Train]

[The A Train]

[The A Train]

What a good month. I took Piers' advice regarding the Party bonus and worked it off over 4 long sessions. Was worried about my bankroll being adequate for the jump but so far so good.
My total profit for the month was $509.45 which includes the $100 party bonus and about $60 bonus from UB so over a quarter of my profit came from bonus'. Thanks Pier. . I would never have tried the Party bonus without your prompting. It was surprisingly easy to work off. Much quicker than the equivalent on UB which would take me forever.
Anyway that was my first $500 month. Actually about double my previous best which is outstanding for me. Apart from the bonus money most of my profit came from the $25 PL omaha games on UB and Party. Am still not comfortable betting at this limit but the $2 game at UB is just crazy and not really a good place to learn what cards to play as everyone plays with everything no matter how much you raise.
I have still played a lot of $10 NL holdem on UB and feel as tho my game is improving however the sng's have not been good to me lately. Am getting all in with the best hand and getting sucked out on a lot more than normal. Just one of those bad runs that you can have I guess.
I am going on three weeks holidays this month so will not be playing during that period. I will try to write an update just before I go.
Does anyone know what has become of the Monk? I have been reading his articles on Omaha and they have been a big help to me. If anyone has any recommended reading for Omaha - especially Pot limit I would love to here from you.
Gotta go. The trains are calling.

[The A Train]

Only getting to play the first week of this month as I go on holidays tomorrow and won't have access to a computer. (my wife planned that well ). After my best month ever in May I was ready for a bit of a downswing but as yet it hasn't happened. I finished up $120 for the month so far. That is after buying a few poker books with my profits which cost about $60, so the month got off to a flyer by my standards. If I wasn't going on holidays tomorrow I would have tried out the party bonus again. Pier has me hooked on them now. Will really start looking for them when I get back from holidays.
Have concentrated on playing mainly PLO and Omaha 8/b this month. Have really been enjoying both. Have been getting a bit stale on the Holdem and the break from it has been good for me. I don't like playing when I'm not enjoying myself. I might as well be at work where my hourly rate would be substantially better.
Played in two Omaha 8/b tourneys and made the same stupid mistake in both. In the BB on both occasions with K suited xx. Flop comes with three of my suit and I bet out. Get called and bet again on the turn. Uh oh. If I wasn't in the BB I would never have played the hand in the first place. I'm supposed to learn from others mistakes and I REALLY hate repeating my own, especially in successive tourneys.
Well, I'm off to Brisbane tomorrow to pick up my wife and two girls who have been visiting with the inlaws then off to Canberra to visit my best man who I haven't seen in a few years. I look forward to catching up with your journals when I get back.
Hope you all have a good month.

[The A Train]

[stoiter]

heheh it actually hasnt been as cold as normal here in canberra this winter!!

i think you got lucky man..

[The A Train]

Had another good month. Reached my goal of $400 for the month with a few days to spare and kicked on to make $467 profit for the month. Started the month concentrating on the $10 NL and have since made the jump to the $25. I have a bankroll of $2000 now so that isn't a problem. Have found that it has taken me a while to get used to the higher level. Playing a bit weak tight on occassions but starting to get the hang of it now.
The first 2000 hands on Empire $25 I have recorded a $4 loss due in part to weak play and 2 bad beats where I got my money in with the best hand and got crushed on the turn or river. It happens. The next 2000 hands I showed a 8BB/100 profit which has been good.
Have collected about $250 in bonuses which is still over half my profit for the month.

The biggest improvement that I have made this month is concentrating on one game for the whole month. In previous months I have been playing a bit of NL and Limit Holdem, some Pot limit Omaha and some limit Omaha 8/b. Have also been playing NL holdem sng's and Omaha 8/b sng's.
This month I have only played NL holdem ring games and for a break I have played a few NL $5 sng's. Concentrating on this one game has helped me a lot as I feel that NL is by far my best game and that over the month I have improved my play. Still making errors but not as many as in previous months. Getting stacked playing TPTK a bit too often for my liking. Not picking the right oppenents to do this with. Got caught doing this against a known rock last week which was very disappointing. Had the data on the rock and didn't use it. Stupid and costly.

Will be away for the first week of September. Am playing in the State QRI lawn bowls tournament which I am looking forward to. Always a good time and a chance to catch up with a few friends. Expect that September results will be a bit below Augusts due to the missing week but we will see.

[The A Train]

What a strange month. I had my worst two days ever and yet still still reached my goal of $400 for the month. I lost 5 buyins and 7 buyins on these two days at the $25 NL tables. Two horrible days. Probably tilted away at least one stack at least on each day but had some major suckouts which really messed up my head. Was all in preflop on three occasions with AA and lost to A7 offsuit, J8 suited and AK. All of this within about half an hour. Major ouch.
To have these bad days and to have still reached my goal is still comforting. I usually get the Party and Empire bonus each month but due to holidays I missed the Empire bonus.
I took $500 out of Neteller which is more than my starting bankroll so everything that I am playing with is profit which is a great feeling.
I still play mostly NL at the $10 and $25 buyin tables but have started to play a little bit of Limit at the .05./.10 tables. I am a very ordinary Limit player and as yet still can't break even at this limit let alone win. I play limit on UB and the bonus money turns my small losses into small wins so it is good to be getting paid to learn, even if it is only pennies.
The numbers for the month are
Profit = $453.38 including the $100 party bonus
Bankroll after $500 withdrawal = $2638.25
AND I GOT MY FIRST ROYAL FLUSH AND STACKED SOMEONE WITH IT. WOOHOO.

[GodlikeRoy]

Very nice, congrats on the good month It's nice to see another Queenslander posting on here, I live in Brisbane myself! Small world huh

[Stu82]

Hey nice one,

good to see an aussie contingent on here making money on the tables. Thats a nice roll you have mustered A-Train!

Whats the plan? its good to see that even after a few bad beats you came out in front.

Just a quick one for the aussies how do you guys withdraw? does neteller send directly to australian bank accounts or did you get the debit card that they offer?

Im not planning on withdrawing anytime soon just curious for when i do.....