Cashout from PokerShare was a success, so we'll just wait and see if they join forces with another room. For now its back to UB grinding away at the bonus and racking up the points.

Tuesday +34

Ran KK into AA -19
I sucked out !!!!! first time in 17000 hands over 6 weeks, cool. Did it in style with a 1 outer
+44
AK beat A9 flopping top 2 +25

Wednesday +58

Set over set -31
QQ flopping set and turning boat QQQ77 beating 78s +42
BB special J8s turning flush, rivering nut flush, beating flopped 2 pair +38
Another BB spesh 74s flopping 2 pair beating A9 +25

Thursday -19

Tricky button raise with AK and BB fires back, see flop, try a play and doesn't work he must have had a hand -20
Won 3-way dance with AA vs KK vs ATs +44

Yesterday was an interesting session. I was down over 1 buyin at one stage after getting stacked for the first time in ages - unraised pot, I had 88 and got in a raising war on a JT8 board, of course the only had I'm worried about and he has it, yes Q9. I kinda knew but he had to show it to me.

Then the fight back started, lots of small pots won and just a couple of big ones to get me back to +42 for the session

Flopped Quads

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (10 handed)

BB ($63.60)
UTG ($61.30)
UTG+1 ($23.45)
UTG+2 ($49.50)
Hero ($114)
MP2 ($16.70)
MP3 ($75.05)
CO ($12.50)
Button ($26.20)
SB ($11.40)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , .
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, 2 folds, CO calls $0.50, Button calls $0.50, 1 fold, BB checks.

Flop: ($2.75) , , (5 players)
BB bets $2.75, UTG+1 folds, Hero calls $2.75, CO folds, Button folds.

Turn: ($8.25) (2 players)
BB bets $6, Hero calls $6.

River: ($20.25) (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $12, BB calls $12.

Final Pot: $44.25

Results in white below:
BB has 8s 8c (two pair, eights and fives).
Hero has 5s 5c (four of a kind, fives).
Outcome: Hero wins $44.25.

Can't believe he bet the turn and called the river with just 88

First time I stacked 3 guys

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (10 handed)

SB ($64.35)
BB ($62.80)
UTG ($24.50)
UTG+1 ($21.35)
Hero ($67.45)
MP1 ($17)
MP2 ($64.10)
MP3 ($12.50)
CO ($15.70)
Button ($11.15)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+2 with , .
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, Hero calls $0.50, 2 folds, MP3 calls $0.50, CO calls $0.50, 2 folds, BB checks.

Flop: ($2.75) , , (5 players)
BB checks, UTG+1 bets $0.5, Hero calls $0.50, MP3 raises to $1, CO raises to $4, BB folds, UTG+1 calls $3.50, Hero goes all-in, MP3 calls $12 (all-in), CO calls $15.20 (all-in), UTG+1 calls $20.85 (all-in).

Turn: ($71.65) (4 players)

River: ($71.65) (4 players)

Final Pot: $71.65
Main Pot: $50.75, between UTG+1, Hero, MP3 and CO. > Pot won by Hero.
Side Pot 1: $9.60, between UTG+1, Hero and CO. > Pot won by Hero.
Side Pot 2: $11.30, between UTG+1 and Hero. > Pot won by Hero.

Results in white below:
UTG+1 has Ts Tc (one pair, tens).
Hero has 2s 2h (three of a kind, twos).
MP3 has Kc 8c (one pair, eights).
CO has 8d Qd (one pair, eights).
Outcome: Hero wins $71.65.

Bunch of muppets....SENDIT lads !!!!!! (SENDIT is a MK registered catchphase )

I've just dropped a little below 10PTBB/100 for the month (9.40) thanks to the 2 losing sessions. Feel I can make it back. My aim is to hit 10k hands this month at 10PTBB/100 which I don't think is too unrealistic now.

Nov 18 BR $3710

Saturday was a fun little 1 hr smash and grab session where I ended up $42 but I had to suckout to do it....here's the hand

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (10 handed)

CO ($17.50)
Button ($65.95)
SB ($25.55)
BB ($29.35)
UTG ($43)
UTG+1 ($44.30)
UTG+2 ($39.50)
Hero ($45)
MP2 ($7.90)
MP3 ($54)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , .
1 fold, UTG+2 calls $0.50, Hero raises to $3, 5 folds, BB raises to $10.25, 1 fold, UTG+2 folds, Hero pushes, BB calls (all-in).

Flop: ($59.95) , , (2 players)

Turn: ($59.95) (2 players)

River: ($59.95) (2 players)

Final Pot: $59.95

Results in white below:
BB has Ks Kd (three of a kind, kings).
Hero has Qc Qh (flush, ace high).
MP3 doesn't show.
Outcome: Hero wins $59.95.

He had a PFR of 9 so it was difficult to put him on a hand that beat me but I knew once he called all-in I was behind. I'm due one of those anyway

Liked this hand as well

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (10 handed)

Button ($47)
SB ($17.60)
BB ($31.50)
UTG ($41.55)
UTG+1 ($25.75)
UTG+2 ($57)
Hero ($53.85)
MP2 ($48)
MP3 ($42.50)
CO ($21.45)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , .
UTG calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.50, 1 fold, MP3 calls $0.50, 2 folds, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($2.50) , , (5 players)
SB checks, BB bets $0.75, UTG calls $0.75, Hero calls $0.75, MP3 folds, SB folds.

Turn: ($4.75) (3 players)
BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $3.5, BB folds, UTG calls $3.50.

River: ($11.75) (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $8, UTG calls $8.

Final Pot: $27.75

Results in white below:
UTG has 3h Th (flush, queen high).
Hero has 9h Ah (flush, ace high).
Outcome: Hero wins $27.75.

Wouldn't normally call this PF but table was playing very passive, like PFR 3

On to today and was doing really well, up about $50 after 200 hands then got this god awful hand.

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (10 handed)

Button ($48.50)
SB ($113.95)
BB ($12.35)
UTG ($48.70)
UTG+1 ($132.10)
UTG+2 ($20.75)
Hero ($63.35)
MP2 ($42.30)
MP3 ($22.10)
CO ($22.15)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with , .
3 folds, Hero calls $0.50, MP2 calls $0.50, MP3 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Button calls $0.50, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($3) , , (6 players)
SB bets $1, BB folds, Hero raises to $4, MP2 folds, MP3 folds, Button folds, SB calls $3.

Turn: ($11) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $8.5, SB calls $8.50.

River: ($28) (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

Final Pot: $28

Results in white below:
SB has Ah 3h (full house, threes full of aces).
Hero has 8d Ad (two pair, aces and eights).
Outcome: SB wins $28.

This has got to be the first time I've ever winced after seeing a showdown, couldn't believ he play A3 like this.....gees that ugly. Normally I would have made a value bet on the end there as I had him on a draw, something inside told me to check it down, still thinking i'm 75% winning (only fear AJ) and got a shock when he caught runner runner to boat up and beat me.....Wow that was UGLY.

AA vs table maniac

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (10 handed)

MP3 ($29.50)
CO ($15.50)
Button ($49.75)
SB ($21.75)
Hero ($45.50)
UTG ($27.80)
UTG+1 ($127.80)
UTG+2 ($87.40)
MP1 ($52.60)
MP2 ($53.20)

Preflop: Hero is BB with , .
1 fold, UTG+2 calls $0.50, 2 folds, MP3 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Button calls $0.50, SB completes, Hero raises to $4, 1 fold, UTG+2 calls $3.50, MP3 folds, Button folds, SB folds.

Flop: ($9.50) , , (2 players)
Hero bets $10, UTG+2 raises to $20, Hero goes all-in, UTG+2 folds.

Final Pot: $47.50

Results in white below:
No showdown. Hero wins $47.50.

This guys stack was going up and down like a freaking brain wave pattern. he'd been as high as $150 and blew it all. I knew he was at it so put him to the test.....thought so.

KQ vs KJ

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (10 handed)

UTG ($22.50)
UTG+1 ($16.55)
UTG+2 ($63.10)
MP1 ($64.60)
MP2 ($62.90)
MP3 ($32.70)
Hero ($49.25)
Button ($40.50)
SB ($39.45)
BB ($38.30)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
1 fold, UTG+1 calls $0.50, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.50, 1 fold, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($2.50) , , (5 players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $2.5, SB folds, BB folds, UTG+1 calls $2.50, MP1 calls $2.50.

Turn: ($10) (3 players)
UTG+1 checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $6.5, UTG+1 calls $6.50, MP1 folds.

River: ($23) (2 players)
UTG+1 bets $7.05 (All-In), Hero calls $7.05.

Final Pot: $37.10

Results in white below:
UTG+1 has Ks Jd (two pair, kings and eights).
Hero has Kd Qc (two pair, kings and queens).
Outcome: Hero wins $37.10.

Also won about 25 when I got all-in with KK PF against TT and ATs. My hand held up and even runner runnered a full house KKK77 though it wasn't needed. After about 400 hands my win rate slowed to a crawl and finally got away after 600 hands after not much further progress +31 for the session but my rate for the month has dropped to 9.2PTBB/100. I really want to hit that magic 10 for the month, would feel I've arrived then. Up to now 2/3 through the month I've played 7160 hand and up $660 which equates to about $50 behind my target. I'm not going to have any problems knocking 10k hands out, just need that win rate

Nov 20 BR $3800

Down $60 today and the target is royally f****d now. I didn't play badly just got sucked out on a couple of times for a healthy amount of my stack each time.

Started out by making a couple of plays with AQ, one absolutely horrible when I called down with a flush draw and one which was out of iceman's "don't lead into me unless you're serious" book and guess what...he was...ack!!! The tables were really juicy tonight as well, one I was playing was PFR 11 and the others 8 so like almost every hand saw a raise PF so it was a case of sitting back and being patient.

So I'm down about $25 early on then get AQ again....

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (9 handed)

MP2 ($22.75)
MP3 ($45.05)
Hero ($61.20)
Button ($44.65)
SB ($28.50)
BB ($36.65)
UTG ($56.15)
UTG+1 ($43.40)
MP1 ($34.35)

Preflop: Hero is CO with , .
4 folds, MP3 raises to $1, Hero calls $1, 2 folds, BB calls $0.50.

Flop: ($3.25) , , (3 players)
BB bets $2, MP3 folds, Hero raises to $8, BB raises to $14, Hero raises to $45.25, BB calls $35.65 (all-in).

Turn: ($74.55) (2 players)

River: ($74.55) (2 players)

Final Pot: $74.55

Results in white below:
BB has Qd Jd (one pair, queens).
Hero has As Qs (one pair, queens).
Outcome: Hero wins $74.55.

I have absolutely no idea what he was trying to achieve with his min re-raise on the flop there so I just stuck him in.....he almost ran out of time and called.

So now I'm back $20 up playing my usual solid poker and the next 2 hands just finished me off



Then this one sent me steaming and I had to get away

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (9 handed)

MP1 ($31.75)
MP2 ($32.85)
Hero ($48)
CO ($37.35)
Button ($22.95)
SB ($51)
BB ($7.20)
UTG ($31.40)
UTG+1 ($33.30)

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with , .
2 folds, MP1 calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, CO calls $0.50, Button calls $0.50, 1 fold, BB checks.

Flop: ($2.75) , , (5 players)
BB checks, MP1 checks, Hero bets $2.75, CO calls $2.75, Button folds, BB folds, MP1 folds.

Turn: ($8.25) (2 players)
Hero bets $10, CO raises to $34.10 (all-in), Hero calls $24.10.

River: ($76.45) (2 players)

Final Pot: $76.45

Results in white below:
Hero has Jd Td (two pair, queens and jacks).
CO has Kh Qs (three of a kind, queens).
Outcome: CO wins $76.45.

At first I thought he 2-outered me which was what sent me steaming and led me to quit the table. It was only after I saw he had a ton of outs.....I still got it in with the best though so I'm proud of that.

Nov 23 BR $3843

Wow, long time no write....what a slacker I've been, but with good reason.

At the end of November, I decided to treat myself to some of my poker winnings and spent $3000 on a 40" LCD TV and DVD recorder with HDD, cool, got it early this month and wow, how cool does it all look, HD ready as well, anyways, best bit is I don't have to pay for it until May 2006 so I'll easily be able to cover it with poker winnings by then.

Anyhow just after splashing out on this, my boiler decided to go up in flames, no damage done fortunately, but at the moment I've got no hot water and no central heating in the house. Try and get a gas man out to fix it all at this time of year...nay chance...won't be until the first week of the new year. This now puts me in a real quandary...it's costing me $4k for a complete new central heating system, do I pull it out of my poker winnings (my BR is $4k coincidently, but I'll only pull 3 out) and carry on grinding away at NL50 of get it from other sources and move up to NL100 as planned...hmmmm...I think long run, pulling it from other sources (shares) and moving up is more +ev. Maybe a 50/50 split, play another month at NL50 and see how I do? ack now i'm rambling.....onto my recent poker play

November finished disappointing, my 10PTBB/100 target totally wrecked and finishing around 6.5 which was pretty good anyway. I put on nearly $1000 to my BR which was the best ever (I'll post stats when I get round to it next couple of days).

This month though, because of my stresses, i've only played 3k hands and goin along at a crap 1.8PTBB/100. I've had some bad beat though and the last couple of sessions have been very promising. I'll try and remember a couple of hands where I lost....2 of which spring to mind.
I have JJ in the blinds and call a standard raise of 4BB flop is AJx all spades he bets, I raise and he calls, I'm figuring to push on any non-spade and feel unlucky if he's flopped it, turn is Qd and the money goes in, I don't improve and he flips QsTs.....ack !!!!
2nd hand I'm playing QJ or QK, can't remember now 8-% its QJ actually, heads up against a half stack, flop is Q86 with 2 of one suit, I pot bet, he calls, turn is a 6, now I'm sure i got the best hand, I bet pot again, he calls, turn is a brick and the money goes in, he flips A6 for trips !!!!! ack!!!!
Had other similar beats but I've really tightened up again post flop, I was playing a little loose earlier this month, my AF up around 5 which I think was a little high and might have made me a bit predictable.

The best thing though is that I'm currently data-mining the NL100 tables and finding a lot of the bad players I play with at NL50 have moved up there or straddling. NL100 here i come!!!! (not till 1/1/06 though....LOL)

Dec 18 BR $4047

Hey Alchemist!

You´ve been doing very nice at NL$50. I think it is time for you to move up! The games are very beatable at NL$100. I am running awful lately but I am certain it is only variance.

You have the roll to try the 100s, i really think you should do it.

take care and keep the good work.

Just keep getting battered, its not funny anymore.....$100 down this month now over only 3k hands, not good. I'm low on pairs, low on sets which is my bread and butter. Won a couple of nice pots tonight with nut fush and set of 9s but that was it, 2 hands in like 400. Apart from running bad, my table image must be so shit at the moment, especially when I ran AQ into AA last night....and won, lol but thats been the one and only highlight so far. Tonight ran KK into AA and should have folded it as well I believe

Ultimate Bet No-Limit Hold'em, $.50 BB (6 handed)

CO ($10.55)
Button ($49.95)
Hero ($50.70)
BB ($131.35)
UTG ($39.05)
MP ($52.15)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
2 folds, CO calls $0.50, Button raises to $1.25, Hero raises to $3.25, 1 fold, CO folds, Button raises to $6.25, Hero calls $3.

Flop: ($13.50) , , (2 players)
Hero bets $8, Button calls $8.

Turn: ($29.50) (2 players)
Hero bets $20, Button pushes, Hero calls.

River: ($100.90) (2 players)

Final Pot: $100.90

Results in white below:
Button has Ad Ah (one pair, aces).
Hero has As Qc (straight, ace high).
Outcome: Hero wins $100.90.

I got into a little PF battle with this villain a few hands earlier and gave him the benefit of the doubt. Here he's got either AA or nothing. I decided to lead into him repping a big hand TT, KK or AK and hope I'd catch a card and u know what.....KA-CHING!!!! turn is a beaut.

Thanks for stopping by Alex, nice meeting u again at the tables. I've not been on that much the last 6 weeks due to other stuff going on but intend to start racking the hands up again now. Yes it was pretty bad and its continuing and getting worse this month as well, $60 down tonight and now $180 down on the month over just 4k hands.

Tonights loss was basically down to 2 hands which looking back I misplayed both.

1st hand I had QQ and call a raise in the SB from the CO, villain (VP30, PF11) calls in the BB and we see a harmless looking flop of 872r. I check, BB leads out, CO folds, I CR to 4x and then BB comes over the top. I should have folded right there but I called (he had been aggressive PF and made some re-raises so I figured KK,AA and AK were out. That leaves 22, 77-QQ so I'm at 50/50 and getting better odds than that). He trapped with KK.
A few hands earlier though he had an AA/AA split with AlexMR (I had TT) so another monster hand was also unlikely which I added into my working out as well.

The very next hand, just 1/4 stack left didn't have time to reload, I got AA, raised it up on the button with 1 limper, hoping I'd get a call from someone thinking I'm on tilt but it didn't happen.

Met villain again running my TT into his JJ but just lost my PFR and CB

2nd hand I sitting at a very passive table in MP with A3s, limp in and see a flop of 872 with 2 of my suit. I call a bet and the turn completes my flush. My mistake here was just calling a 1/3 pot bet on the turn instead of raising it up. The river paired the board, villain pushed and I fell to his boat (22).

Think I'm going to try a slight change of strategy in the coming days, I'm probably a bit too predictable because I played a hell of a lot of hands with pretty much the same crowd so watch this space. I'll have to go some now to recover the month to a winning one, it'll need to turn around in the next couple of days.

Alchemist,

I have seen you play for a few hundred hands and I know you play a very solid style. If you asked me I would say that you are not really predictable for NL$50 competition. As you moved up it might be a good idea to loosen up a bit because you are a 13% VP$IPer, which is kind of rockish. At these tables, I think that is just the optimal way to play. Most players are not paying attention and if they are they are just really stupid. You have been winning for quite long and the competition hasnt changed, so your style is good.

Hang in, and hopefully things wont be as hard as they have been with me (cold carded for too damned long!).