FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2006

Won $40.03 tonight. A very nice start to the new game. Though the first big pot I won was thanks to luck - got it all in with J-10 on a J-10-2 flop and turned another Jack to bust opponent who got a set of 2's. I guess your advice was right, BK, he actually had a hand that time. BUT...that's the way it goes sometimes . Other than that I won the rest of my money the "right" way, and didn't donk off anything. I do like playing bigger pots...almost seems that some opponents are playing scared, and that's a definite advantage.

Sets 0-11
AA: 0
KK: 0
QQ: 2


Tables played: 1 full ring
Time played: 2 hours
Profit for day: $40.03
Bankroll as of 3/24/06: $547.24

Countdown to $50 NL: $452.76

SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2006

Lost $25.10 tonight. One word best summazies tonight...ugh. Played probably way too long, and was for the very most part extremely card-dead. Aside from making one poorly-timed "value" bet on the end, didn't play badly, just wasn't able to get anything going and got Aces cracked by a Runner Runner straight... . Oh well, the rush had to end sooner or later, and tomorrow's another day.

Sets 0-14
AA: 1 (see above)
KK: 2 (got no action whatsoever)
QQ: 0


Tables played: 1 full ring
Time played: 6.4 hours
Loss for day: $25.10
Bankroll as of 3/25/06: $522.14

Countdown to $50 NL: $477.86

ANNOUNCEMENT

I'm making a couple of revisions to my plans - no, nothing earth-shattering. BK gave me some advice in his entry above what I'm realizing after only three short days is right on - I'm finding that playing only one table has actually made me play WORSE. Now, I'm not just writing this because I've dropped 1.5 buy ins in my last two sessions (that's actually not a terrible downswing by any means, hell, Kenny will probably drop 3 buy ins and win back 5 before I'm done with this entry ), but I think I'm actually losing focus on the game that's being played, and I'm also finding myself doing things -EV that I woudn't normally do, such as calling raises with PP's when the raiser only has 5x or so, and betting too many marginal hands for "value".

So, as of my next session, I'm going to resume two tabling. AND, after one more week (starting Monday, April 3rd), I will be adding a third table, and a fourth after an additional month.

If anyone doesn't think this is a good idea, PLEASE, reply and let me know, but I don't see the problem with it. I will still be moving down if I drop 5 buy-ins. On this there will be no debate.

I'll have my regular recap tonight as well as my weekly summary.

How many tables do you normally play? If 3 is normal, then sounds fine...a 4th after a month will be fine. What are your PT stats though? How much to you like to read players vs use somthing like PAHUD to get reads? If you like your own reads best, 4 tables will start impinging on that...if not, then use PAHUD and add a 4th. Personally, I think PAHUD is sufficiently +EV by adding a 4th table as long as you don't care as much about playing 'great' poker in terms of good strategic play irrespective of what level you're playing at and whether it's warranted (fancy play syndrome etc). So, if you want to grow as a 'player' then stick with 3 tables and work on your reading skills...if you're willing to postpone that until later (which has been my plan), then add a 4th after the month...sounds like a fine plan.

SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2006

Won $55.61 today. Although my biggest dollar win to date, I can't lie and say I'm proud of the way I played today, particulary my last session tonight. I didn't win my money today with suckouts and such, but it's the fact that I COULD and SHOULD have won more that angers me. I got in trouble at least twice from what I can remember with an overpair vs. various stronger hands that I ended up paying off, I even fell for the ol' mini-raise on one of them . I also feel like I still can't figure out what the proper raise is at these tables - it's so damn fickle - I raise 3x, I get 6 callers, I raise 4x the whole damn table folds instantly. This is starting to feel more like $2 NL than $10 NL, except everyone's got cobwebs on their chips before the flop unless they have a monster like 34o, or some shit like that...BUT, still I came out in the black, so I'm doing OK, and it seems almost easier to get paid off on big hands than it did at $10 NL.

Sets 4-41
AA: 5
KK: 1
QQ: 5


Tables played: 1 full ring, switched to 2 full ring for sessions #2 and 3
Time played: 6 hours
Profit for day: $55.61
Bankroll as of 3/26/06: $577.75

Countdown to $50 NL: $422.25

WEEK ENDING MARCH 26, 2006

Well obviously, a week to remember - any week that you reach a goal you've set for yourself and are able to take the next step is a great one. And so I did this past week, to $25 NL up from $10 NL.

My hot streak continued right through the beginning of the weekend and propelled me to the next level, but has seemed to cool off, though I still put up some good numbers today. Even from a few short days of play at my new level, I realize that I have much to work on and much to learn yet if I expect to continue to be successful as I move up and my bankroll grows.

As I mentioned in my announcement earlier today, I plan on 2-tabling for one more week and then trying a third table out. I find I'm playing much more relaxed and focused poker than I do when I have only one game going on at a time. The grind continues, back to basics with these $25 NL jackasses...

1&2 table play
6 days play

Net profit for week: $135.92

Bankroll as of 3/26/06: $577.75

Emoticon of the Week:

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2006

Won $38.47 tonight. This was quite an interesting night and fist met desk more than once... . Somewhat similar to last night actually, made a few HORRIBLE calls, one even with AK no nothing vs. a short stack who called my CB and put the rest in on the turn...hey, he didn't bet the J-high flop, he CAN'T have anything RIGHT??? UB players ALWAYS bet their hands for value! Sad thing is I know better, I was semi-tilting because a few hands before I hit a set and didn't get paid.

I really need to work on a few things. BUT, I won a huge stack with KK all-in before the flop vs. QQ to salvage my night and come out ahead. Also chipped away and won a few other pots as well. Got paid shit on my other big hands.

Sets 1-13
AA: 3
KK: 3
QQ: 3


Tables played: 2 full ring
Time played: 2.4 hours
Profit for day: $38.47
Bankroll as of 3/27/06: $616.22

Countdown to $50 NL: $383.78
_________________
"In order to live, you must be willing to die"

-Amir Vahedi

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2006

Lost $8.93 tonight. This could have been A LOT worse - I was the victim of suckouts on both of my flopped sets - once vs. an overset which my opponent caught on the river after calling pot sized bets on both the flop and turn, and the other after my opponent rivered a straight (I did get all the money in on the second one). I fought back and won some good pots with solid play, so the loss is modest and if anything I'm more confident that I'm playing well and I'm getting my money in pots with the best of it.

Sets 2-19 (see above)
AA: 3
KK: 4
QQ: 1


Tables played: 2 full ring
Time played: 3.7 hours
Loss for day: $8.93
Bankroll as of 3/28/06: $607.29

Countdown to $50 NL: $392.71

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2006

Won $50.45 tonight. Another crazy night -- won a stack right away with a well-concealed hand in the BB, only to lose it moments later with a questionable play with Aces vs. K-10 which called my PFR and turned a 10 for 2-pair. I probably shouldn't have called the all-in to my turn bet -- he was the sort to come in with any two, and I mean any two, cards. BUT - hit a ton of sets tonight, and won a monster pot with a nut straight that I turned from the SB with 76 clubs. Lost some of it to set over set, and got a stack back late with another nice two pair hand.

Sets 6-22
AA: 3
KK: 1
QQ: 3


Tables played: 2 full ring
Time played: 2.9 hours
Profit for day: $50.45
Bankroll as of 3/29/06: $657.74

Countdown to $50 NL: $342.26