.10/.25 NLH LH 28/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $679.49
No. of Hands: 646
Profit/Loss: -$19.20
Closing Balance: $660.29

Running Totals: +$438.55/4142
+1754ptbb/4142 (+42.35ptbb/100)

Slight difference between my PT stats and my actual stats. Stars died on me last night and cost me a few hands (only three, i think, but I had money invested). Using PT for the running totals to make it easier.

Don't think I played that badly last night. Missed a couple of huge combo draws (all in on the flop with an OESFD once and gutshot+FD the other time), missed a few expensive flush draws too. Made a SF at one point (and nobody said NH...bastards) and bluffed a little erratically. Had to leave one of the tables because I was playing poorly on it (some guy got lucky on me a few times and then I started playing badly against him, so I left. He was the most active player and there was nothing keeping me there).

Just for fun

MP2: $27.25
CO: $4.30
Hero (BTN): $26.10
SB: $19.70
BB: $35.15
UTG: $13
UTG+1: $28.85
UTG+2: $25
MP1: $24.65

Pre-Flop: 7d 5d dealt to Hero (BTN)
6 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, SB folds, BB calls $0.50

Flop: ($1.60) 4d 3d 4h (2 Players) FD+gutshot. I doubt he has a FH here, maybe A4
BB checks, Hero bets $1.25, BB raises to $2.50, Hero calls $1.25

Turn: ($6.60) 6d (2 Players) Even if he flopped a boat, I just 1-outered him
BB checks, Hero bets $3.25, BB calls $3.25

River: ($13.10) 7c (2 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $7.25,I can't check behind and I think this is the most I can bet and keep him interested. Bluff inducing on the river is rare BB calls $7.25

Results: $27.60 Pot ($1.35 Rake)
Hero showed 7d 5d (a straight flush, Three to Seven) and WON $26.25 (+$12.50 NET)
BB mucked 6s Kc and LOST (-$13.75 NET) K6? Probably why no NH.

This next hand got me berated by the villain (who quickly left) and had one guy on the other side of the table supporting me (although he might have been trying to keep the fish happy). Judging from his later play, he was no nit and seemed pretty decent. Who knows.

CO: $18.80
Hero (BTN): $56
SB: $10.55
BB: $25
UTG: $21.50
UTG+1: $4.25
MP1: $27.80
MP2: $49.35

Pre-Flop: 3d 7d dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.25, SB raises to $1, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.75 Getting 2:1 now, with about 12:1 max implied. Not great, but ok. I don't know much about the villain but this doesn't look much like a steal and I have no reason to think it as he's shown more passivity than aggression preflop.

Flop: ($2.75) Qd 2s Ad (2 Players)
SB bets $0.25, Pathetic bet. Probably wants a call, but tiny bets are, in my experience, extremely polarised. Probably either AA or 34o type thing Hero raises to $2, Gets weak hands out, builds a big pot for if I hit SB calls $1.75

Turn: ($6.75) 4d (2 Players)
SB bets $7.55 and is All-In, Hero calls $7.55 I've hit what I wanted so I have to call. I don't put him on a big flush here.

River: ($21.85) Kc (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $21.85 Pot ($1.05 Rake)
Hero showed 3d 7d (a flush, Ace high) and WON $20.80 (+$10.25 NET)
SB showed Ac As (three of a kind, Aces) and LOST (-$10.55 NET)

This hand was a disaster from flop to river.

MP1: $4.30
MP2: $25.40
Hero (CO): $35.15
BTN: $22.20
SB: $4.40
BB: $28.90
UTG: $8.85
UTG+1: $4.95

Pre-Flop: 8h 6s dealt to Hero (CO)
UTG folds, UTG+1 calls $0.25, MP1 folds, MP2 raises to $0.75, Hero calls $0.75,I think I'm getting good implied odds here, with position 3 folds, UTG+1 calls $0.50

Flop: ($2.60) Qs 2d 7d (3 Players)
UTG+1 checks, MP2 bets $1.25, Hero raises to $3.25,Small reraise to represent value. Maybe too small. Without a read, I think bigger bluffs work better. There's a good chance he has a big hand preflop. A missed AK folds here most of the time, and overpairs don't fold to a reasonable bet UTG+1 folds, MP2 calls $2

Turn: ($9.10) Jd (2 Players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $5.25, Now I'm repping the flush. I suppose flush with Q makes sense, so for the hand as a whole I can only have KQ, QJ, maybe QT. AQ is unlikely for me here, but he might not know that. MP2 calls $5.25

River: ($19.60) 3d (2 Players)
MP2 checks, Hero bets $11.50,Another fake value bet. Might be a good spot to abandon it here, as AdAx, KdKx just hit and won't fold like ever. MP2 calls $11.50

Results: $42.60 Pot ($2.05 Rake)
MP2 showed Ks Kd (a flush, King high) and WON $40.55 (+$19.80 NET) KdKx. Oh well.
Hero showed 8h 6s (high card Queen) and LOST (-$20.75 NET)


Here's someone else hitting a draw vs me.

MP: $4.65
Hero (CO): $40.05
BTN: $21.85
SB: $17
BB: $25
UTG: $25
UTG+1: $24

Pre-Flop: Kd 5d dealt to Hero (CO)
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, BTN calls $0.75, SB calls $0.65, BB raises to $1.25, Hero calls $0.50, BTN calls $0.50, SB calls $0.50

Flop: ($5) Kh 9h 5c (4 Players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero bets $3.25, BTN folds, SB raises to $15.75 and is All-In, I have to call $12.50 with $24 in there, so I need to win a third of the time. Against sets and Axs, I'm 46%. Based on the eventual result, I plugged in every FD, sets and 2-pair, and I'm 59%, even though shit like 9d5s makes no sense. Without those, I come up to about 60%. Either way, I think I'm in decent enough shape. BB folds, Hero calls $12.50

Turn: ($36.50) 3c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($36.50) 2d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $36.50 Pot ($1.80 Rake)
Hero mucked Kd 5d and LOST (-$17 NET)
SB showed 4h 6h (a straight, Deuce to Six) and WON $34.70 (+$17.70 NET)

Betting the turn in this next hand might be a mistake. Too aggressive? The villain hadn't played past the flop yet, but I only have about 2 orbits with him.

Hero (UTG): $25
UTG+1: $9.15
MP1: $35.95
MP2: $23.80
CO: $7.65
BTN: $15.80
SB: $12.90
BB: $19.05

Pre-Flop: As 9s dealt to Hero (UTG)
Hero raises to $0.75, 4 folds, BTN raises to $2.50, SB folds, BB calls $2.25, Hero calls $1.75 3:1 now, not great implied odds. Probably a good spot to fold and avoid difficulties with A-high flops.

Flop: ($7.60) 7d Ts 5s (3 Players)
BB checks, Hero bets $4.75, BTN calls $4.75, BB folds

Turn: ($17.10) 4h (2 Players)
Hero bets $8.55, After two orbits, I have no reason to think he's floating me. I probably wasn't aware of it at the time, but he's either bet or check/folded every other flop. BTN calls $8.55 and is All-In

River: ($34.20) Qc (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $34.20 Pot ($1.65 Rake)
Hero showed As 9s (high card Ace) and LOST (-$15.80 NET)
BTN showed Td Th (three of a kind, Tens) and WON $32.55 (+$16.75 NET)

I also had a couple of experiences with river calls of tiny bets. One was good and the other was bad. Small sample, obviously, but I think this is one of the things I struggle with. Getting 6:1 on the end, you only need to be right a small fraction of the time, but calling and losing 6 times would make me gun-shy on the one that I would've won.


UTG: $27.25
UTG+1: $5
Hero (UTG+2): $37.85
MP1: $20.65
MP2: $25.90
CO: $12.65
BTN: $28.50
SB: $24.75
BB: $24.65

Pre-Flop: Ac 9h dealt to Hero (UTG+2)
2 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, MP1 calls $0.75, MP2 calls $0.75, 4 folds

Flop: ($2.60) 6d 3c 7c (3 Players)
Hero checks, Missed OOP, been aggressive recently so checking here. Chance to get a free card, maybe hit a backdoor club draw. MP1 checks, MP2 checks

Turn: ($2.60) 9c (3 Players) Pretty perfect card. TP+FD
Hero bets $1.50,If nobody else wants the pot. MP1 folds, MP2 calls $1.50 Oh, somebody else does want the pot

River: ($5.60) As (2 Players)
Hero bets $1.75, MP2 raises to $3.50,Possible he called the turn with AxKc or some other 2pair combo. 6:1 on the call should be enough. Hero calls $1.75

Results: $12.60 Pot ($0.60 Rake)
Hero mucked Ac 9h and LOST (-$5.75 NET)
MP2 showed Kc 2c (a flush, King high) and WON $12 (+$6.25 NET)

Lastly - hero call!

MP2: $34.55
CO: $6.85
BTN: $16.40
SB: $24.75
Hero (BB): $25
UTG: $26.15
UTG+1: $11
UTG+2: $28.35
MP1: $9.05

Pre-Flop: Kd Tc dealt to Hero (BB)
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $0.50, UTG+2 calls $0.50, 5 folds, Hero calls $0.25

Flop: ($1.60) 2h Ks Ts (3 Players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $0.25, UTG+2 calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1.25,I guess I'm betting too small against draws here. I plan to bet big if the turn is not a spade or A UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $1

Turn: ($4.35) Jd (2 Players)
Hero bets $3, UTG+2 raises to $26.60 and is All-In,This looks so much like a bluff or semi bluff. I can't put him on AQ or a set here Hero calls $20.25 and is All-In

River: ($50.85) 5c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $50.85 Pot ($2.50 Rake)
Hero showed Kd Tc (two pair, Kings and Tens) and WON $48.35 (+$23.35 NET)
UTG+2 mucked 6s As and LOST (-$25 NET) Semibluff. Well well.

I've picked up a couple of problems. First is that I struggle with the long term. I already know I fixate on short-term money movements, although I am getting better. But I also don't allow enough for the value of calls on the end over time. I play draws too fast and too hard. Since most people aren't that aggressive, I could afford to value bet them a little more (I wonder what the effect of betting draws on the turn to the value that you could call if the bet was reversed would be? A drop in fold equity but a rise in pot equity? I suppose the final effect on EV depends on who the villain is - will they fold at a good price or not?) I also take some very weak hands to showdown. I'm down $290 with no pair and one pair hands - a lot of dumb calls and missed bluffs/draws there, I think.

.10/.25 NLH LH 8/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $861.76 (up from some micros and a ptipper tourney last night)
No. of Tables: 3
No. of Hands: 221
Closing Balance:$875.81 (+$14.05)

Running Totals: +$309.25/2040
+1237ptbb/2040 (+60.64ptbb/100)

Played a lot better today. Couple of hands I spewed off on but not many. Didn't catch a lot of cards (makes up for the ptipper tourney last night where I caught everything) but did well with the ones I had. Feeling better overall about my game

SB: $14.35
BB: $28.65
UTG: $26.15
UTG+1: $21.50
MP1: $27.40
MP2: $2.85
Hero (CO): $31.15
BTN: $72.05

Pre-Flop: Ad 8h dealt to Hero (CO)
4 folds, Hero raises to $1, BTN folds, SB calls $0.90, BB folds

Flop: ($2.25) Jd 6d Ah (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.50, SB calls $1.50

Turn: ($5.25) Qs (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $3.75, SB calls $3.75

River: ($12.75) 3c (2 Players)
SB checks, Hero bets $8.10, SB calls $8.10 and is All-In

Pretty sure I should check behind on the river. Villain was relatively unkown and didn't seem like a station. My image was tighter than usual so I think that this is AT+ more than it's A7-. I couldn't see him calling me down with worse than top pair (which does make the river bet a bad decision)

And here's me making a hero call. Villain is straightforward, doesn't get tricky that I've seen so far. He's also aggressive most of the time.

BB: $25.50
UTG: $15.95
UTG+1: $21.15
UTG+2: $44.60
MP1: $26.80
MP2: $24.65
Hero (CO): $31.10
BTN: $21.10
SB: $11.85

Pre-Flop: 5d 4c dealt to Hero (CO)
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.25, 2 folds, Hero calls $0.25, BTN folds, SB calls $0.15, BB checks

Flop: ($1.25) Kh 5h 3d (5 Players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, UTG+2 checks, Hero bets $0.75, I'm preparing to double barrel on a non-ace, non-heart turn, 3 folds, UTG+2 calls $0.75

Turn: ($2.75) 8c (2 Players)
UTG+2 checks, Hero bets $2.25, UTG+2 calls $2.25 Remembering that this guy is straightforward, I'm not giving him a king here very often. 6h4h seems more likely; some sort of draw

River: ($7.25) Jd (2 Players)
UTG+2 bets $3, That card completes no draws. If he has a king and has trapped me, GG. I also think he's the type of player who likes value bet bluffs because they're cheap, even though I'm a station and so they never work Hero calls $3

Results: $13.25 Pot ($0.60 Rake)
UTG+2 showed 6d 7d (high card King) and LOST (-$6.25 NET)
Hero showed 5d 4c (a pair of Fives) and WON $12.65 (+$6.40 NET)

.10/.25 NLH LH 6/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $758.83
No. of Tables: 1
No. of Hands: 66
Closing Balance: $809.68(+$50.85)

Running Totals: +$289.00/1812
+1156ptbb/1812

Very, very lucky session. Good cards everywhere. Only one table as I wanted to see if my reads would be much better (they weren't, although it was a short session and I didn't have much call to use them). That and I wasn't looking to play much. Went well and now I'm over $800. I'll not be taking a shot at 50NL yet, though, as I don't think I'm at my best, and if I'm going to spew I want to do it at half price.

.10/.25 NLH LH 5/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $743.18
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 234
Closing Balance: $743.43 (+$0.25)

Running Totals: +$238.15/1746
+956.5ptbb/1746

Meh. Pretty standard for me (bluff some off, value bet it back. Bluff horribly, get called by villain with overcards and lose, get aces and no action). Didn't play my best but didn't really do anything terrible. Still feeling good about 25NL and hoping to make the jump to 50NL by the end of the month.

And a word to the not-so-wise: if you're going to berate other players in the chat box for bad calls: I'm going to tell you not to (especially if you're being an insulting jerk and the call was ok). And then you don't get to tell me not to do that.

And if the button from this hand happens to read my blog: I feel your pain.

Hero (BB): $27.80
UTG: $25.40
UTG+1: $102.15
UTG+2: $22.55
MP1: $19.20
MP2: $10.90
CO: $9.95
BTN: $20.85
SB: $25.60

Pre-Flop: As Qc dealt to Hero (BB)
6 folds, BTN raises to $1, SB folds, Hero raises to $2.50, BTN calls $1.50

Flop: ($5.10) Qh 2h Qs (2 Players)
Hero bets $2.25, BTN raises to $18.35 and is All-In, Hero calls $16.10

Turn: ($41.80) Kd (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($41.80) Kh (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $41.80 Pot ($2.05 Rake)
Hero showed As Qc (a full house, Queens full of Kings) and WON $39.75 (+$18.90 NET)
BTN mucked 4s 3c and LOST (-$20.85 NET)

.10/.25 NLH LH 4/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $691.69
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 282
Closing Balance: $732.44 (+$40.75)

Running Totals: +$237.90/1512
+951.5ptbb/1512

Session was shaping up to be a big loser. I spewed horrifically, betting and bluffing in all the wrong places. Shot up by about $35 in the first ten minutes, was about sixty down at the worst point. Towards the middle I was playing a little weak tight but I think I was back on top of things by the end. Couple of hands where I think I got shafted (one where we got all in and both had the nut straight with Q9, one where I flopped straight with QJ, turn Q gave villain two pair, all-in, river J).

Very happy with these two hands, my biggest winners.


MP1: $20.20
MP2: $24.75
CO: $23.10
BTN: $24.50
SB: $15.90
BB: $7.45
UTG: $13.15
Hero (UTG+1): $29.20
UTG+2: $36.35

Pre-Flop: Qs Qd dealt to Hero (UTG+1)
UTG calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1, UTG+2 raises to $3.50, 6 folds, UTG calls $3.25, Hero raises to $29.20 and is All-In, UTG+2 folds, UTG calls $9.65 and is All-In
UTG+2 is pretty tight and basically has JJ+, AQ+ and is a little weak. I have a tight image at this table so I think I can get him off AQ, JJ, maybe AK or QQ. UTG will help me get UTG+2 out and I know UTG+2 will call with hands I crush or maybe fold 89s or something.

Flop: ($30.15) Qh 5s 2c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Turn: ($30.15) 6d (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($30.15) 2h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $30.15 Pot ($1.50 Rake)
UTG showed Th Tc (two pair, Tens and Deuces) and LOST (-$13.15 NET)
Hero showed Qs Qd (a full house, Queens full of Deuces) and WON $28.65 (+$15.50 NET)

In the chat, UTG+2 claimed to have folded AK. I'm a believer.

Same table, about 2 orbits later.
BB: $25
UTG: $25.15
UTG+1: $24.10
UTG+2: $25.85
MP1: $16.70
MP2: $13.25
CO: $31.45
Hero (BTN): $43.45
SB: $24.45

Pre-Flop: 6c 7s dealt to Hero (BTN)
6 folds, Hero raises to $0.75, SB raises to $1.25 Same villain as UTG+2 above. Now looks a little call hapy post flop but still tight (has been stacked twice with KK and AA, although both by shorties). I read the minraise as AQ+, JJ-QQ, BB folds, Hero calls $0.50 Button, plus villain will probably pay off if I hit straight/2 pair

Flop: ($2.75) 9c 8h 7d (2 Players)
SB bets $4.50, Hero raises to $23.20 OESD+1 pair is much better than AK/AT w/BDFD and isn't far behind AA-QQ, SB calls $18.70 and is All-In

Turn: ($49.15) 7c (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

River: ($49.15) 6h (2 Players - 1 is All-In)

Results: $49.15 Pot ($2.45 Rake)
Hero showed 6c 7s (a full house, Sevens full of Sixes) and WON $46.70 (+$22.25 NET)
SB showed Qh Ah (a pair of Sevens) and LOST (-$24.45 NET)

I'd blog about some of the hands where I played horribly and threw money away, but I mostly know what I did wrong. Except this one. I love these "Oh fuck" raises on the river

Poker Stars, $0.10/$0.25 NL Hold'em Cash Game, 8 Players
LeggoPoker.com Hand History Converter

MP1: $24.75
MP2: $25.75
Hero (CO): $46.30
BTN: $25
SB: $18.70
BB: $8.10
UTG: $36.05
UTG+1: $6.15

Pre-Flop: 2h 5h dealt to Hero (CO)
UTG raises to $0.50, 3 folds, Hero calls $0.50,Error 1 BTN folds, SB calls $0.40, BB calls $0.25

Flop: ($2) 7d Qh Kh (4 Players)
SB checks, BB checks, UTG checks, Hero bets $1.25, Not terrible, flush over flush is rare. However, by this point, I have no image left 2 folds, UTG calls $1.25

Turn: ($4.50) As (2 Players)
UTG checks, Hero checks Free card. Standard

River: ($4.50) 2c (2 Players)
UTG bets $1, Hero raises to $3.25 Missed my draw, but hoped he was on the same draw without the Ace+value bet, UTG calls $2.25

Results: $11 Pot ($0.50 Rake)
Hero showed 2h 5h (a pair of Deuces) and LOST (-$5 NET)
UTG showed Ah Th (a pair of Aces) and WON $10.50 (+$5.50 NET)

Yeah, I think preflop is bad and the river is spewy. Only thing he folds if he was on the draw is the 7. And what 7s is he raising from there? I should think more when I play, especially putting the whole thing together. That might be my biggest leak/problem right now.

.10/.25 NLH LH 3/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $635.14
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 411
Closing Balance: $686.94(+$51.80)

Running Totals: +$197.15/1230
+788.6ptbb/1230
(+64.11ptbb/100)

Actually two sessions, today and yesterday. Didn't have time to update yesterday so I'll lump it all together.

Great first thousand hands to begin 25NL. I'm already thinking about moving up again (although I'll need at least $800 to take a shot and I have been on something of a heater). I think an aggressive bankroll strategy is the way to go.

So, the hands. I got pretty lucky this morning, picking up back to back flushes for a rapid double up (one nut flush vs. a T-high, one non-nut vs. two pair). I'd marked the guy out as a fish and it was very pleasant to bust him. My VPIP overall was lower than it normally is (as was my PFR; I think I need to bring that up. I'm running 33/23 so far. I think I'm calling too much behind limpers with marginal or even trashy button hands). I'm also still not paying enough attention to the tables. Case in point: I flopped a set of 7s and because I knew the villain would bet more hands than he'd call, I checked to him on the flop and turn before making a small bet on the end (I didn't want to let him check behind if he was being aggressive with a draw. I cost myself as he had kings and flat called, but that's how it goes).

The one hand I felt was giving me real trouble was AKo. I lost three big pots with it. Let's examine the hands.

------------------
HAND #1
------------------

UTG+1: $27.55
MP1: $15
MP2: $25.95
CO: $6
Hero (BTN): $55.55
SB: $27.65
BB: $24.40
UTG: $31.10

MP1 posts $0.25
CO posts $0.25
Pre-Flop: As Kd dealt to Hero (BTN)
UTG calls $0.25, UTG+1 folds, MP1 checks, MP2 folds, CO checks, Hero raises to $1.50 Trying to pick up the OOP blinds really, SB folds, BB raises to $5, 3 folds, Hero calls $3.50 Two factors: I have a good hand and I have this guy down as a probable restealer

Flop: ($10.85) 3h 5s 5c (2 Players)
BB bets $3.50, Hero calls $3.50 A small bet, might be for value, might be a weak attempt to push me out. I'm hoping he'll give up and I can shove the turn

Turn: ($17.85) Jd (2 Players)
BB bets $15.90 and is All-In, Hero folds Not sure about this. It would be kind of a hero call/soul read and I don't want to do that against a relative postflop unknown. I don't see how that J helped much (AJ and JJ obviously). Looks to me like I'm agonising over an obvious fold



------------------
HAND #2
------------------

SB: $13.30
BB: $28.55
UTG: $24.80
UTG+1: $22.35
MP: $20.60
CO: $4.15
Hero (BTN): $24.65

Pre-Flop: Ks Ad dealt to Hero (BTN)
3 folds, CO calls $0.25, Hero raises to $1, 2 folds, CO calls $0.75 CO limp/calls. Classic drawing hand/mid pair

Flop: ($2.35) 4h Js 5h (2 Players)
CO bets $3.15 and is All-In, Hero calls $3.15 Spew? Overbetting the pot looks like a bluff, but what can he do with a PSB? If I have anything, he's going in anyway. Now when I played this hand, I was determined not to get blasted off AK again. I forgot about everything else, especially the range of mid/small pair or connectors I put him on. I don't think I'm ahead enough here, given that I'm far behind any pair, nearly dead to 4s and 5s and not far ahead of something like 23o. Bad play, I think

------------------
HAND #3
------------------

MP1: $26.85
MP2: $16.20
CO: $14.10
BTN: $21.35
Hero (SB): $58.65 OOP this time
BB: $26.70
UTG: $26.95
UTG+1: $13.50
UTG+2: $10.80

Pre-Flop: Ad Kc dealt to Hero (SB)
UTG folds, UTG+1 raises to $0.50, UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls $0.50, MP2 calls $0.50, 2 folds, Hero raises to $2.50 Again I'm trying to take it down now. My steals have generally gone well, I haven't shown down trash. UTG+1 has little positional sense., BB folds, UTG+1 calls $2, MP1 calls $2, MP2 calls $2

Flop: ($10.25) Qc Jc 3d (4 Players)
Hero checks I missed, no c-betting 4-way, UTG+1 bets $3, MP1 folds, MP2 calls $3, Hero calls $3 OK, so $3 into $16. 5:1. I think I'm looking at 7 outs (Ts obviously and Ks. AQ/AJ are too likely for me to count the Aces). Not really the right price since it's unlikely I'll get to see a free river. I think a T gets me lots of money, though.

Turn: ($19.25) 8h (3 Players)
Hero checks, UTG+1 bets $5.25, 2 folds Not sure about that fold. Looks like villain has about $3 left, so implied odds really do nothing and I have no equity from pushing back. 5:1 isn't quite enough to draw to 7 outs, especially when it's unlikely my Ks are still good. Probably muck this on the flop, or call the flop rather than build a big pot OOP (although that would've been better without so many villains)

I think I butchered that last one quite badly. The others aren't that bad, but AKo is currently my third biggest loser at this level (early days...insignificant sample size...etc.). Anyone has any thoughts, let me know (does anyone even read this? I know people load the page from time to time, but that's all I know)

.10/.25 NLH LH 1/11/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $609.19
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 183
Closing Balance: $615.49 (+$6.30)

Running Totals: +$145.35/819
+581ptbb/819

Good session. Lost a buy-in early in a huge pot drawing to the nut flush (not entirely sure now that I had the right price, will check later). Cards were good to me, although I only got one pay-off (set of tens vs. pocket aces) with my big hands. I tightened up and zoned out at the end which might have cost me. Still, feeling good. Will do hand analysis later.

.10/.25 NLH LH 30/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $616.99
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 215
Closing Balance: $634.19 (+$17.20)

Running Totals: +$139.05/636
+556ptbb/636

Didn't really feel in control as much as I used to at 10NL. Still played pretty well (only one big bluff that went very well and, given the villain, might not even have been a bluff) but at times it could have been better. No big hands clashing or anything like that, so mostly just a slow accumulation and the occassional small pot lost (for example, only six pots worth more than $5 with a 35% VPIP). I'm pretty happy overall, although I did get into a chatfight I really should've just ignored (I think I tilted the villain a little, he went from being LAGgy preflop to LP, but I never had anything to play with him (KT c/f flop was the best I managed).

.10/.25 NLH LH 29/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $521.04
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 155
Closing Balance: $550.29 (+$29.25)

Running Totals: +$121.85/421
+487.4ptbb/100


Played pretty well, I think. Early on I got a bit carried away and bluffed off quite a bit, but generally I played ok. Tightened up a little later on. Happy with the session overall.

.10/.25 NLH LH 27/10/07

Stars
Opening Balance: $440.40 (slightly up on before from some PLH I've decided to ignore)
No. of Tables: 2
No. of Hands: 266
Closing Balance: $533.00(+$92.60)

Running Totals: +$92.60/266
+370ptbb/266

Bored of 10NL, I decided to try a 2BI shot at 25NL. I've heard the play isn't that different and I figured 2BI wouldn't really hurt that much. Plus I'd stopped caring so much about losing at 10NL and so I went for it.

The first one vanished when I got felted on the very first hand (turned a straight, villain rivered a FH and I got stacked thinking {correctly, as it happens} that he put me on a missed flush). Managed to turn that session around by the end, finishing my first 100 or so hands up about half a buy in.

Sat down for a second try this morning and hit a massive rush, flopping big aces and overpairs all over the place. I screamed my way to ~$75 on one table and about $40 on the second (I've decided to 2-table 25NL to start with, although unless I start feeling really uncomfortable I'll bring the third table back after a couple of thousand hands). From there I sat fairly tight and eventually came away a big winner.

So far, this looks to be a success. Should it all go wrong from here I'll move back down if my roll falls under $400 (and not back up until it hits $500). I've not noticed a huge amount of difference in the playing ability (although I've only played a couple of hours). I'm feeling great about my play right now and really looking ahead.

.10/.25 NLH LH 14/5/07

Opening balance: $139.09 (Down $12 from yesterday after a failed sattelite to the 330K Gtd)

Buy in : $48
No. of hands : 98
Left with : $16.01

Closing balance : $107.10

Running total: -$138.84/369
-557ptbb/271

The first table I was on, I was winning handily after a time. I lost most of my first stack after bluffing back at the maniac the one time he really had a hand. I managed to work back from $24 to almost $48 and back to $41 before it broke up. Switched tables and the new one was not so friendly. Both were limp happy, but the second had way more aggression post-flop. Eventually I lost my stack overplaying top pair and getting hammered by a set.

And that's my problem. I can win a series of small and medium sized pots and then I lose it all on one big hand. I play too many hands. On a table like those I had today, I limp a lot behind other limpers, then can't extract my self or control the pot when I catch a small piece of the flop. I'm a bad player. I have taken a number of bad beats recently, but not so much that it justifies the huge losses I've sustained. Losing $300 dollars in less than a thousand hands of .25/.50 and .10/.25 is dreadful. And it hurts.

I remember when I started playing, about three and a half years ago, I thought I knew it all. I was a big fish in pool of even bigger fishes. After a few months, I learnt some things by myself and some other things from my friend Stef (basic position, hand selection, bet sizing etc.) and thought I was great. As it happened, I was better than the people I was playing with. Then I turned 18 and started playing online. For a while, I couldn't believe how unlucky I was. All these donks kept beating me!

From there, I gradually came to realise that I was losing because I was bad. I stopped playing for a few months, came back, lost some more. Finally, I went looking for help. I found Ptips and realised that I was virtually clueless. I learned, I got better, I started winning. Then the bubble burst. I lost more, and more, and more. Then I stopped for a while.

I picked it up again and started this blog. I decided to stop reloading, to try and play within my roll and to closely monitor my progress. And yet, here we are. I'm throwing money away, I'm spewing everywhere and I feel like shit.

Maybe I can't take the variance. I do have a fairly LAG style, which brings with it big swings. Even when I try to contain myself, I don't become TAG, I become loose-passive pre-flop and a bluffing machine post flop. I can't take the variance, I hate losing and I'm not well-off enough to pour money in.

As of now, I'm down another level. .05/.10 NLH LH. I still have ten buy-ins for that, but I'm thinking I should change my plans. If I am prone to big swings, it's possible I'll hit a big upswing soon. If I simply aim at an amount of money, I might move up before I'm ready. So instead of aiming at an amount of money, I'll aim to be above 7ptbb/100 after 15K hands. It'll take me a long time to grind my way up from here, but if I should manage to establish myself as a fundamental winner at this low level (which will come as a result of solid play) I'll relax the restrictions when moving back up to .25/.50.

And in the meantime, I'll study the fundamentals again. I'll go back to the beginning, refresh myself, try and learn from scratch. I'm smart, I love the game and I used to be a winner. I can do this!

.10/.25 NLH LH 13/5/07

Opening balance: $263.94

Buy in : $131.60 (total)
No. of hands : 271
Left with : $24.75

Closing balance : $157.09

Running total: -$106.85/271
-467ptbb/271

This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. I did play badly at times but got coolered a disgusting number of times. Set over set, nut flush against full house, king-high flush against Ace high flush, TT into JJ, KK into AA, losing with AA against KK/QQ. I know I'm not a fantastic player and never have been, but now I'm starting to think I can't even play at all. I tried to be tight and wait for good cards, a safe and normally successful low-limit, long hand table. It doesn't help much, though, when you get beaten all over the place.

A hand where I played badly.

Seat 8: speedstar83 ( $23.65 USD )
Seat 7: YagaS ( $59.45 USD )
Heidor posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
nihilicus posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to YagaS [ 8d 9s ]
6 folds
YagaS calls [$0.25 USD]
speedstar83 raises [$1 USD]
2 folds
YagaS calls [$0.75 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 8h, Ac, Ah ]
YagaS bets [$1.25 USD]
speedstar83 raises [$3 USD]
YagaS calls [$1.75 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Ts ]
YagaS bets [$5 USD]
speedstar83 is all-In [$19.65 USD]
YagaS calls [$14.65 USD]
** Dealing River ** [ 6d ]
YagaS shows [ 8d, 9s ]two pairs, Aces and Eights.
speedstar83 shows [ As, Kh ]three of a kind, Aces.
speedstar83 wins $45.30 USD from the main pot with three of a kind, Aces.

At this point in the session I'm actually doing well. I took a big pot off this villain when I had QQ vs. AQ on Q98 not very long ago. He's been playing at me a lot, taking a number of small pots without showing down. He's been loose and active, so I'm not giving him much credit here. The best point for me to let go would be on the turn when he shoves, but by then I'm hung up on not getting shoved around and I'm still feeling the little hot streak I've been on.

That was absolutely the worst hand of the session. Here are two that went well.

Seat 9: YagaS ( $22.35 USD )
Seat 4: Broki7 ( $11.55 USD )
Seat 1: rastabit ( $13.23 USD )
Seat 2: ChildinTime7 ( $30.22 USD )
Seat 7: RiverVince ( $9.15 USD )
Seat 10: Wendul81 ( $5 USD )
Seat 3: mega05111 ( $27.40 USD )
Seat 8: Friend499 ( $24.85 USD )
Seat 6: SickBlind ( $15.75 USD )
Seat 5: yackfou666 ( $8.25 USD )
ChildinTime7 posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
mega05111 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to YagaS [ 8h Qc ]
4 folds
YagaS raises [$0.75 USD]
1 fold
rastabit calls [$0.75 USD]
1 fold
mega05111 calls [$0.50 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 7h, 5h, 9d ]
mega05111 checks
YagaS bets [$1.50 USD]
rastabit raises [$3.50 USD]
1 fold
YagaS raises [$10.50 USD]
1 fold
YagaS does not show cards.
YagaS wins $16.90 USD

A steal that turned into a bluff. Picked my target and went for it, and by some miracle it worked.

Seat 8: speedstar83 ( $32.10 USD )
Seat 7: YagaS ( $27.45 USD )
Scraberr posts small blind [$0.10 USD].
amokoma2 posts big blind [$0.25 USD].
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to YagaS [ Qc Qd ]
4 folds
YagaS raises [$0.75 USD]
speedstar83 raises [$2.50 USD]
3 folds
YagaS raises [$6.25 USD]
speedstar83 calls [$4.50 USD]
** Dealing Flop ** [ 9d, Qs, 8c ]
YagaS bets [$1 USD]
speedstar83 raises [$5 USD]
YagaS raises [$10 USD]
speedstar83 is all-In [$20.10 USD]
YagaS is all-In [$9.45 USD]
** Dealing Turn ** [ Kd ]
** Dealing River ** [ 9s ]
YagaS shows [ Qc, Qd ]a full house, Queens full of Nines.
speedstar83 shows [ Ad, Qh ]two pairs, Queens and Nines.
speedstar83 wins $4.65 USD from side pot #1 with two pairs, Queens and Nines.
YagaS wins $52.50 USD from the main pot with a full house, Queens full of Nines.

One big win, just a shame I threw it all away later on.

If I'm honest, I probably could have played a lot tighter. If I was being really tight, I'd have played maybe half of the hands I did. The problem is, I lost way more on the hands where I hit than on my steal attempts and sixth in value calls with 79s.