Well I finally managed to crawl over 10K in earnings for the year thus far. I guess not too bad as I have spent nearly a month on botanical excursions and other trips but not as great as I would have liked as I was closing in on 10K in the second week of March when I just got annihilated.

I really hope to pick up the pace on my hours in the next two months because I am planning a trip to the states to pick up my children in NY and I hope to just spend 5 or 6 weeks traveling around with them to various places. I don't anticipate that I will be playing alot during this time but will try to get in some hours in the later nights when they are sleeping. I am really loooking forward to seeing them as it has been just over a year since my last trip to the US.

Well today has been a little frustrating although I am up a little over 100. Played about 800 hands of 50 NL while working on another party bonus and I just couldn't get paid off big on my sets or other good hands. I also made one bonehead play that cost me more than it should when my overpair ran into flopped quads and another one where I was drawing dead and called off another 30 because I was "pot" committed. Nothing like being pot committed and then finding yourself drawing dead So those two hands were the difference in being about even and being 80 down at the 50 NL game.

Well went to the store to resupply my beer for tonights tournament and to get some things to make a pizza. Looking forward to getting together with everyone for what should be a nice time. Hopefully break into the money for the first time in one of these BTP get togethers which is almost assured since I have that last longer bet with TW

Doing some 10-20 datamining as I am thinking about making a permanent move up very soon. From the data so far the top ten winners of the day all have a VIP greater then 20 and leading the pack is a guy with 50%

I have been watching alot of the games and there is a tremedous amount of very bad play. So hopefully things get off to a good start and I roll along.

12 limit for bonus clearing is just bad for my health. I was just going to have a relaxing evening and play a couple of hours to finish off my last Crypto bonus and at the same time knock off a few hands at Party. Well about 550 hands later I am down 45.54 after clearing 10 GBP at Ritz. This is really nothing and I should just shrug it off and I guess I will but since I am bitching and moaning might as well go ahead and post a couple of gems. A couple of hands the guys weren't going anywhere as they had big hands or big draws but this cat bidit69 put two mf beats on me in the span of one round that were just nasty and then proceeded to start talking smack to me.

Game #407022814: Texas Hold'em Limit ($1/$2) - 2005/04/27 - 19:47:46 (GMT)
Table "Aldebaran" Seat 2 is the button.
Seat 1: borik232 ($38.50 in chips)
Seat 2: rock649 ($29.50 in chips)
Seat 3: ShawMhor ($56 in chips)
Seat 4: majestyk4 ($21.50 in chips)
Seat 5: Digidoc ($53.25 in chips)
Seat 6: Murchman ($48.75 in chips)
Seat 7: Mar210144 ($86.79 in chips)
Seat 8: Frenzie ($40 in chips)
Seat 9: Essence1 ($95.25 in chips)
Seat 10: MrQue ($46.75 in chips)
ShawMhor: posts small blind $0.50
majestyk4: posts big blind $1
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to majestyk4 [7c 9d]
Digidoc: folds
Murchman: folds
Mar210144: folds
Frenzie: folds
Essence1: calls $1
MrQue: calls $1
borik232: folds
rock649: folds
ShawMhor: calls $0.50
majestyk4: checks
----- FLOP ----- [6h 8h Th]
ShawMhor: bets $1
majestyk4: raises $2
Essence1: folds
MrQue: calls $2
ShawMhor: calls $1
----- TURN ----- [6h 8h Th][As]
ShawMhor: checks
majestyk4: bets $2
MrQue: calls $2
ShawMhor: folds
----- RIVER ----- [6h 8h Th As][8s]
majestyk4: bets $2
MrQue: raises $4
majestyk4: calls $2
----- SHOW DOWN -----
MrQue: shows [8d 8c] (Four of a kind, Eights)
majestyk4: mucks hand
MrQue collected $21 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $22 Main pot $21 Rake $1
Board [6h 8h Th As 8s]
Seat 1: borik232 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: rock649 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ShawMhor (small blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 4: majestyk4 (big blind) mucked
Seat 5: Digidoc folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Murchman folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Mar210144 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Frenzie folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Essence1 folded on the Flop
Seat 10: MrQue showed [8d 8c] and won ($21) with Four of a kind, Eights


Game #407224364: Texas Hold'em Limit ($1/$2) - 2005/04/27 - 20:33:20 (GMT)
Table "Aldebaran" Seat 9 is the button.
Seat 1: bidit69 ($14 in chips)
Seat 2: rock649 ($27.75 in chips)
Seat 3: ShawMhor ($56 in chips)
Seat 4: beardyian ($19 in chips)
Seat 5: Digidoc ($62 in chips)
Seat 6: hoganarms ($43 in chips)
Seat 7: majestyk4 ($25 in chips)
Seat 8: Frenzie ($51.50 in chips)
Seat 9: Trogdor ($13 in chips)
Seat 10: MrQue sits out
bidit69: posts big blind $1
majestyk4: posts big blind $1
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to majestyk4 [5h 5s]
rock649: folds
ShawMhor: folds
MrQue sits back
beardyian: folds
Digidoc: folds
hoganarms: folds
majestyk4: raises $1
Frenzie: folds
Trogdor: folds
bidit69: raises $2
majestyk4: calls $1
----- FLOP ----- [Jc 3d 2h]
bidit69: bets $1
majestyk4: calls $1
----- TURN ----- [Jc 3d 2h][5c]
bidit69: bets $2
majestyk4: raises $4
bidit69: calls $2
----- RIVER ----- [Jc 3d 2h 5c][4s]
bidit69: checks
majestyk4: checks
----- SHOW DOWN -----
bidit69: shows [Ac 7d] (A Straight, Five high)
majestyk4: mucks hand
bidit69 collected $15.25 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $16 Main pot $15.25 Rake $0.75
Board [Jc 3d 2h 5c 4s]
Seat 1: bidit69 (big blind) showed [Ac 7d] and won ($15.25) with A Straight, Five high
Seat 2: rock649 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ShawMhor folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: beardyian folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: Digidoc folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: hoganarms folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: majestyk4 (big blind) mucked
Seat 8: Frenzie folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Trogdor (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)


Game #407250964: Texas Hold'em Limit ($1/$2) - 2005/04/27 - 20:40:10 (GMT)
Table "Aldebaran" Seat 3 is the button.
Seat 1: bidit69 ($27.50 in chips)
Seat 2: rock649 ($20.75 in chips)
Seat 3: ShawMhor ($54.50 in chips)
Seat 4: beardyian ($18 in chips)
Seat 5: Digidoc ($70 in chips)
Seat 6: hoganarms ($43 in chips)
Seat 7: majestyk4 ($17 in chips)
Seat 8: Frenzie ($54.75 in chips)
Seat 9: Trogdor ($2 in chips)
Seat 10: MrQue ($70.75 in chips)
beardyian: posts small blind $0.50
Digidoc: posts big blind $1
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to majestyk4 [As Kh]
hoganarms: folds
majestyk4: raises $2
Frenzie: folds
Trogdor: folds
MrQue: folds
bidit69: calls $2
rock649: folds
ShawMhor: folds
beardyian: calls $1.50
Digidoc: folds
----- FLOP ----- [3d Kc Ts]
beardyian: checks
majestyk4: bets $1
bidit69: raises $2
beardyian: folds
majestyk4: raises $2
bidit69: calls $1
----- TURN ----- [3d Kc Ts][6d]
majestyk4: bets $2
bidit69: calls $2
----- RIVER ----- [3d Kc Ts 6d][9d]
majestyk4: bets $2
bidit69: raises $4
majestyk4: calls $2
----- SHOW DOWN -----
bidit69: shows [Td 8d] (A Flush, Ten high)
majestyk4: mucks hand
bidit69 collected $23.75 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $25 Main pot $23.75 Rake $1.25
Board [3d Kc Ts 6d 9d]
Seat 1: bidit69 showed [Td 8d] and won ($23.75) with A Flush, Ten high
Seat 2: rock649 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: ShawMhor (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: beardyian (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: Digidoc (big blind) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: hoganarms folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: majestyk4 mucked
Seat 8: Frenzie folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: Trogdor folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 10: MrQue folded before Flop (didn't bet)


Party Poker 1/2 Hold'em (8 handed)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
1 fold, UTG+1 calls, MP1 calls, 3 folds, Hero completes, BB checks.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (4 players)
Hero bets, BB folds, UTG+1 calls, MP1 raises, Hero 3-bets, UTG+1 folds, MP1 calls.

Turn: (5.50 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets, Hero raises, MP1 3-bets, Hero caps, MP1 calls.

River: (13.50 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, MP1 raises, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 17.50 BB

Results in white below:
MP1 has 7d Ad (flush, ace high).
Hero has Qd Th (straight, queen high).
Outcome: MP1 wins 17.50 BB.

I have for the second time withdrew all of my money from various bonus whoring sites in an attempt to make myself concentrate on playing the bigger games (1020 and 1530 limit).

I have been so successful for so long pounding out a decent living playing low limits and taking advantage of the myriad of bonuses that are continually offered that it has just been hard to ween myself away from that routine. With multiple accounts at most major sites it is not uncommon to clear 800-1200 a month just in bonuses but the truth of the matter is that in the time it takes to clear those bonuses I could be making much more playing the higher limit games.

So unless these cats manage to beat me down right out of the gate I am going to make a solid effort to put in more hours at the bigger games and drop the whoring schedule.

Logged on this morning to see about playing some 1020 limit and there was only one full ring game going that looked half way inviting so I fired up some 510 tables and played just a little bit before working on some moss stuff. Just played a little 1020 this evening, less than 100 hands. The games were not that great so I decided to try again later this evening when the west coast folks get off work. All in all up about 100 so far in my limited action.

That's a big step piers...good luck to you. I wonder when I will reach that point. hopefully by the end of the year.

keep up the journal and let us know how it goes

Thanks alot Kenny. I don't anticipate having many problems at 1020. The higher limits if anything suit me alot better as it allows me to open up quite a bit more and add a little more sophistication to my play than I would playing lower.

Didn't put in much time today as I was busy trying to get shit straightened out with checks, bank wires and other things I shouldn't have to deal with but because of the shitty mail system here I wasn't sure if one of my checks I sent would ever reach its destination as it has been over two weeks since I mailed it by "secure and fast" Venezuelan mail which apparently doesn't mean squat.

All in all a good day money wise regardless of my lack of time at the tables as I pulled in a little over 230 in about 40 minutes of play.

This hand finished off the night for me. The worse hand of all day wasn't bad at all as I dropped 50.00. If every day the worse that I sustain in one hand is a 50 loss then things are booming.

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (9 max, 9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
2 folds, MP1 calls, 1 fold, MP3 calls, CO calls, Hero calls, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: (6 SB) , , (6 players)
SB checks, BB checks, MP1 bets, MP3 folds, CO calls, Hero calls, SB calls, BB folds.

Turn: (5 BB) (4 players)
SB checks, MP1 bets, CO calls, Hero raises, SB folds, MP1 calls, CO folds.

River: (10 BB) (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets, MP1 calls.

Final Pot: 12 BB

Results in white below:
MP1 has Ks Qc (two pair, kings and queens).
Hero has 8s 8c (four of a kind, eights).
Outcome: Hero wins 12 BB.


Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (9 max, 9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
UTG calls, 1 fold, MP1 calls, 4 folds, SB completes, Hero checks.

Flop: (4 SB) , , (4 players)
SB checks, Hero checks, UTG checks, MP1 checks.

Turn: (2 BB) (4 players)
SB bets, Hero raises, UTG folds, MP1 folds, SB calls.

River: (6 BB) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 6 BB

Results in white below:
SB has 3c Ks (two pair, kings and threes).
Hero has Ac 7c (one pair, sevens).
Outcome: SB wins 6 BB.

Piers:

I am glad you chose to make the transition from BH'ing to playing decent limits. (no offense to those that love the BHing--I have a $100 PP bonus, yet to clear myself, hehe!)

The truth of the matter is that at a respectable limit, a couple hundred in bonus $ will be niether here nor there. If you think you are a good player, as i suspect you do and you are, then you are doing yourself an injustice by dicking around the low limit games. The little bit you earn in bonuses would be totally overshadowed by profits youd earn in big limits if you are a winning player. I think BH's who actually have the salt to be sucessful at decent limits are (to use poker language) making a -EV move by screwing around in two bit games at two bit sites just to collect a hundred bucks. The guys that make the real money dont and never did this.

Now, the only trick is to run good. Good luck...

Thanks for the well wishes Mecos. I cut my teeth on some pretty tough 15-30 to 4080 limit games in Vegas when I was coming up early in my career and held my own so I have no doubt in my mind that I will handle these higher online limit games well.

I guess what happened was that I continued to make a pretty good income playing lower limits and BW while working on my doctorate which was a very good plan overall as I had enough to take care of with three kids to feed, a nagging woman and a dissertation to write so I didn't want to sweat 1000.00 losses in a day to go with taking care of these other things. Then the few times I decided to jump up I would start off bad which wasn't too much of a problem but it was always compounded with various outside problems, unpaid loans to a couple of friends, a robbery, a move to another country, etc. that forced me back to playing lower limits. Well hopefully nothing rears its ugly head this time except the requisite bad beat or two that I expect to take daily. I am really looking forward to the increased stimulation at the tables instead of the grind of the BW cycle.

Managed to put in a few more hands today (274) although not enough for everyday play. Also put in 150 or so PLO hands earlier. All in all up a little over 270.

The hands of the day, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Good #1: When I raise upfront J2o loses a little value

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , .
2 folds, Hero raises, 2 folds, CO calls, Button calls, 1 fold, BB calls.

Flop: (8.50 SB) , , (4 players)
BB checks, Hero bets, CO calls, Button calls, BB calls.

Turn: (6.25 BB) (4 players)
BB checks, Hero checks, CO checks, Button bets, BB raises, Hero calls, CO folds, Button folds.

River: (11.25 BB) (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero caps, BB calls.

Final Pot: 19.25 BB

Results in white below:
BB has 2h Jd (three of a kind, twos).
Hero has Qs Qh (full house, queens full of twos).
Outcome: Hero wins 19.25 BB.

Good #2: Who says I am tight, I can three bet 66 preflop with the best of them

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (9 max, 7 handed)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
1 fold, MP1 raises, 1 fold, Hero 3-bets, Button caps, 2 folds, MP1 calls, Hero calls.

Flop: (13.50 SB) , , (3 players)
MP1 checks, Hero checks, Button bets, MP1 folds, Hero calls.

Turn: (7.75 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, Button bets, Hero raises, Button calls.

River: (11.75 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, Button raises, Hero 3-bets, Button calls.

Final Pot: 17.75 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has 6h 6d (three of a kind, sixes).
Button has As Qc (two pair, aces and queens).
Outcome: Hero wins 17.75 BB.

The Bad: Crushed by the old three outer

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (9 max, 9 handed)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with , .
1 fold, Hero raises, 6 folds, BB calls.

Flop: (4.50 SB) , , (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB calls.

Turn: (4.25 BB) (2 players)
BB bets, Hero raises, BB 3-bets, Hero calls.

River: (10.25 BB) (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: 10.25 BB

Results in white below:
BB has Ah 9d (two pair, aces and nines).
Hero has Kd As (one pair, aces).
Outcome: BB wins 10.25 BB.

UGLY: The patented A high call down against a Big Fish who had three bet with J9s and flopped trips on me

Party Poker 10/20 Hold'em (9 max, 7 handed)

Preflop: Hero is Button with , .
4 folds, Hero raises, SB 3-bets, 1 fold, Hero calls.

Flop: (7 SB) , , (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Turn: (4.50 BB) (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

River: (6.50 BB) (2 players)
SB bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 8.50 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has Ac Js (one pair, nines).
SB has Jd 9d (three of a kind, nines).
Outcome: SB wins 8.50 BB.

Hehe.

Always nice to 3 bet a PF raiser with 66 and flop A6x. the kicker hit on the end is always fun too! I find that when i flop a baby set against a pf raiser i just jamit with him instead of trap him...esp if theres an A on the board. If hes got an ace, its a big one, so hell be willing to mix it up. If he's got a big PP, then he might either check behind, or else muck to a turn CR, if he does actually bet. Just some thoughts...

It also just occurred to me that since you live in Venezuala, you must know spanish, which leads me to beleive that you probly know that my name means. Hehe. Its a long story.