Sometimes I just don't understand women and unneccesary drama, I guess I am in with the majority of the non gay male species.

Poker Stars 5-10 limit, 152 hands, -28.00
PokerRoom 3-6 limit, 107 hands, 1.90
PokerStars 3-6 limit, 54 hands. -12.00
Crypto 1-2 limit, 42 hands, 2.75
Rake: 0
Various: 50
----------------------------------------
Total: 14.65
Time: 1h10m

Piers... I never heard back from you... Did the transfer go okay?

Yes it went through fine. Thanks again.

Managed to force myself into a short session this morning and the very first hand I get 55 in the BB and call a raise after a few limpers came along. Flop 54A. Nice set over set action with the rockets winning the confrontation. Managed to hit a few hands and crawl back out of the hole. Got a little less than 100 pts to go to finish up that god damn pokerroom bonus, man those games are tight there.

PokerStars 2-4 limit, 62 hands, 19.00
PokerRoom 2-4 limit, 37 hands, 18.00
Bet365 1-2 limit, 95 hands, -20.75
Rake: 0.00
Various: 25.00
------------------------------------
Total: 41.25
Time:1h35m

I have had a shitload of bad one hour sessions but this one ranks right up there with the worse ones in memory, a little more than -60 Big Bets in an hour. Just a flurry of second best hands and getting outflopped.

Son of a bitch. Another short nightmare session. I guess I can just be thankful that I am playing about 10 times under my BR requirement as that is the only good news that I can obtain from this shit. Two winning tables out of 12 that I have played on. About -84 Big Bets today in under 2 hours.

WOW I actually made a quick strike into the 5-10 shorthanded tables and won a little.

Some of the beauties from today:

PokerStars 2/4 Hold'em (10 handed)

Preflop: Hero is SB with , .
UTG raises, 7 folds, Hero 3-bets, 1 fold, UTG calls.

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

Turn: (4.50 BB) (2 players)
Hero bets, UTG raises, Hero 3-bets, UTG caps, Hero calls.

River: (12.50 BB) (2 players)
Hero checks, UTG bets, Hero calls.

Final Pot: 14.50 BB

Results in white below:
Hero has Ks Kc (two pair, kings and sevens).
UTG has Jc Th (straight, jack high).
Outcome: UTG wins 14.50 BB.


Game #1501984353: Hold'em FL ($2/$4) - 2005/12/05 - 14:43:12 (UK)
Table "Brunei" Seat 7 is the button.
Seat 1: zachte ($142.50 in chips)
Seat 2: MrZamir ($155 in chips)
Seat 3: Hazard4 ($177 in chips)
Seat 4: Lil'Tony ($115.25 in chips)
Seat 5: nikeozz ($96 in chips)
Seat 6: PokerFred ($63 in chips)
Seat 7: Estikart ($78.76 in chips)
Seat 8: Emily1110 ($97.32 in chips)
Seat 9: majestyk2 ($89 in chips)
Seat 10: Rick1971 ($79.75 in chips)
Emily1110: posts small blind $1
majestyk2: posts big blind $2
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to majestyk2 [Ks Kh]
Rick1971: folds
zachte: calls $2
MrZamir: folds
Hazard4: folds
Lil'Tony: folds
nikeozz: folds
PokerFred: raises $4
Estikart: calls $4
Emily1110: folds
majestyk2: raises $4
zachte: calls $4
PokerFred: calls $2
Estikart: calls $2
----- FLOP ----- [Qh Th 6c]
majestyk2: bets $2
zachte: folds
PokerFred: calls $2
Estikart: calls $2
----- TURN ----- [Qh Th 6c][6d]
majestyk2: checks
PokerFred: bets $4
Estikart: calls $4
majestyk2: raises $8
PokerFred: calls $4
Estikart: calls $4
----- RIVER ----- [Qh Th 6c 6d][Jd]
majestyk2: bets $4
PokerFred: calls $4
Estikart: raises $8
majestyk2: calls $4
PokerFred: calls $4
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Estikart: shows [Kd Ac] (A Straight, Ace high)
majestyk2: mucks hand
PokerFred: mucks hand
Estikart collected $76 from Main pot

Game #1502061553: Hold'em FL ($2/$4) - 2005/12/05 - 14:54:17 (UK)
Table "Brunei" Seat 7 is the button.
Seat 1: zachte ($80.50 in chips)
Seat 2: MrZamir ($150 in chips)
Seat 3: Hazard4 ($187.25 in chips)
Seat 4: Lil'Tony ($95.25 in chips)
Seat 5: nikeozz ($113.75 in chips)
Seat 6: sherry54 ($124.75 in chips)
Seat 7: Estikart ($159.51 in chips)
Seat 8: Emily1110 ($72.32 in chips)
Seat 9: majestyk2 ($64 in chips)
Seat 10: Rick1971 ($72.75 in chips)
Emily1110: posts small blind $1
majestyk2: posts big blind $2
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to majestyk2 [Jh 2h]
Rick1971: folds
zachte: folds
MrZamir: folds
Hazard4: folds
Lil'Tony: folds
nikeozz: folds
sherry54: calls $2
Estikart: calls $2
Emily1110: calls $1
majestyk2: checks
----- FLOP ----- [2d 3h 2s]
Emily1110: checks
majestyk2: bets $2
sherry54: folds
Estikart: calls $2
Emily1110: folds
----- TURN ----- [2d 3h 2s][7d]
majestyk2: bets $4
Estikart: calls $4
----- RIVER ----- [2d 3h 2s 7d][6d]
majestyk2: bets $4
Estikart: raises $8
majestyk2: raises $8
Estikart: raises $8
majestyk2: calls $4
----- SHOW DOWN -----
Estikart: shows [Qd 3d] (A Flush, Queen high)
majestyk2: mucks hand
Estikart collected $49.50 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $52 Main pot $49.50 Rake $2.50
Board [2d 3h 2s 7d 6d]
Seat 1: zachte folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: MrZamir folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Hazard4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: Lil'Tony folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: nikeozz folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: sherry54 folded on the Flop
Seat 7: Estikart (button) showed [Qd 3d] and won ($49.50) with A Flush, Queen high
Seat 8: Emily1110 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 9: majestyk2 (big blind) mucked
Seat 10: Rick1971 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
****HAND ENDS****

Game #1501511743: Hold'em FL ($1/$2) - 2005/12/05 - 13:19:39 (BST)
Table "Cobalt" Seat 6 is the button.
Seat 2: pingoo ($15.50 in chips)
Seat 3: majestyk4 ($12 in chips)
Seat 4: Tubarao ($18.50 in chips)
Seat 6: lolomat ($239.25 in chips)
Seat 7: Alma100 sits out
Seat 8: bulldog78 ($10.25 in chips)
Seat 9: sobmaj ($83 in chips)
Seat 10: FisherB ($97.75 in chips)
bulldog78: posts small blind $0.50
sobmaj: posts big blind $1
----- HOLE CARDS -----
dealt to majestyk4 [9d Td]
FisherB: calls $1
pingoo: calls $1
majestyk4: calls $1
Tubarao: folds
lolomat: folds
bulldog78: calls $0.50
sobmaj: checks
----- FLOP ----- [Jc 2d Kc]
bulldog78: checks
sobmaj: checks
FisherB: checks
pingoo: checks
majestyk4: checks
----- TURN ----- [Jc 2d Kc][Qh]
bulldog78: bets $2
sobmaj: folds
FisherB: folds
pingoo: folds
majestyk4: raises $4
bulldog78: calls $2
----- RIVER ----- [Jc 2d Kc Qh][6c]
bulldog78: bets $2
majestyk4: raises $4
bulldog78: raises $3.25 and is all-in
majestyk4: calls $1.25
----- SHOW DOWN -----
bulldog78: shows [2c 8c] (A Flush, King high)
majestyk4: shows [9d Td] (A Straight, King high)
bulldog78 collected $22.50 from Main pot
----- SUMMARY -----
Total pot $23.50 Main pot $22.50 Rake $1
Board [Jc 2d Kc Qh 6c]
Seat 2: pingoo folded on the Turn
Seat 3: majestyk4 lost
Seat 4: Tubarao folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: lolomat (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: bulldog78 (small blind) showed [2c 8c] and won ($22.50) with A Flush, King high
Seat 9: sobmaj (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 10: FisherB folded on the Turn
****HAND ENDS****

Stars 5-10 6 max, 14 hands, 48.00
Stars 3-6 limit, 68 hands, -82.00
Pokerroom 3-6 limit, 14 hands, 36.60
PokerPlex 2-4 limit, 74 hands, -88.00
Stars 2-4 limit, 51 hands, -52.00
Martins 1-2 euro limit, ca. 150 hands, 1.50 euro(1.76)
Bet365 1-2 limit, 52 hands, -23.75
Crypto 1-2 limit, 68 hands, -61.50
Rake: 0.00
Various: 68.85
--------------------------------
Total: -152.04
Time: 1h50m

Field trip was cancelled as it has rained alot recently and the place is pretty hazardous when wet. Went to the botanical garden this morning to drop off some collections and ran into a young, lithe bryological colleague and got asked to accompany her on a field excursion next Tuesday into the mountains outside of Caracas, should be a nice trip. Started a session when I returned but just wasn't into playing so cut it very short. Going to spend some time organizing my botanical things and work a little on some identifications today.

Made a return trip to the botanical garden and got trapped in the rain so didn't put in alot of time today at the tables.

Stars 2-4 limit, 13 hands, 10.00
Pokerroom 2-4 limit, 10 hands, 1.80
Cryptos 1-2 limit, 29 hands, -0.25
Martins 0.5-1.0 euro limit, ca. 30 hands, 13.45 euro(15.85)
Rake: 0.00
Various: 9.74
------------------------------
Total: 37.14
Time: 30m

The new year is drawing closer and with it will come a reduced participation in all things poker for me beyond the game. I will probably spend the same amount of time playing as it is my only source of income but the majority of my other time will be devoted to my botanical endeavors. I started this journal as somewhat of a guide to the successes and failures of a professional poker player and perhaps as a point of refuge for those attempting the same goal of making a living or supplementing their income by playing poker. Hopefully it has served some purpose in those regards as far as seeing that it can be done. This year has for the most part has been typical of what most winning players go through as I have had streaks of very good fortune with a few set backs along the way, and for the most part those setbacks were exaggerated by a lack of discipline that should not be allowed to creep into your play. You will have losing sessions and losing streaks but do not make them worse then they have to be by being undisciplined. If you follow the guidelines that I set out in regard to playing low limit holdem then poker should be very good to you if you limit yourself to that area. Playing tight and chasing bonuses can net even the laziest poker player 20K a year without much sweat which is not bad for a supplemental income which for the most part it should be.
After playing over a decade of winning poker as my only or primary source of income I guess I can claim to be one of the greatest limit holdem poker players on the face of the earth, if you ask me my ego will certainly not hesitate to tell you so but that being said it is not enough for me. With my educational background and field of study I have an opportunity to become a legend in my area and again my ego drives me to that end. In the big scheme of things the only thing you have while living is your honesty to your fellow man and when dead the works you have left behind and while I could easily spend the rest of my life extracting money from folks at the poker table in the end it would have little meaning if nothing else was accomplished and that is not the way I am choosing to be remembered.
For the younger folks that are thinking of choosing poker beyond getting an education and perhaps playing poker at the same time you should rethink your goals in my opinion. At least for myself the time spent while in undergraduate school and on up through getting a doctorate were an incredible experience intellectually and beyond. If you don't have the intellectual capacity to as Thoreau put it, suck the marrow out of life, then you are doing yourself a grave injustice.