Ok, my renewed aspirations of hoping to earn a decent single (or additional) income from poker began when I returned home from Orlando on May 16th. To say the least I was a little nervous, I didn't and still don't feel I have a comfortable bankroll (started with $600) to support 16 tabling 50NL. Maybe I just run really bad, or don't fold AK enough when the board is A K 7 rainbow. I'm nots sure, but I am considering depositing a further $500 to boost my confidence from any future inevitable downswings. I may wait for some sort of deposit bonus from Stars though.
Overall, despite my hot start I feel I have run pretty poorly. I am not running badly in ALL in EV, however this does not tell the whole story, as the number of times I have been sucked out on turn/river when pot committed is incredible. I have also had very few "hand me outs." These are when the cards dictate the hand and both players are in no fault of their play. I.e., AA vs KK or set over set.
Due to Stars awesome promotion (which I did not quite complete or know about till I returned from my hols!), I will become Platinum Star as of June 3rd, plus be rewarded 70K VPP for earning 5010VPP over the last 2 weeks. Although I did not hit my intended 7.5k for 80K VPP, this is no big deal and may delay my journey to Supernova by just a month or so.
Anyway, heres how the graph/stats looked for May...
The Stats
2.56bb/100 over 27,450 hands
$350.75 in winnings
New roll $949.96
My goals for next month are to play 60,000 hands and try and boost my roll to ~ $1.5k.
Will keep ya updated on my progress!
Best of luck!
- Rich
Sunday, 31 May 2009
Magic in the Finals!!
Last night, against all the odds (before the series started), the Magic finished off the Cleveland Cavaliers in 6 games. This has to be one of the biggest upsets for quite some time in the league and just shows to go what can happen when a team plays good, co-ordinated team basketball.
Hopefully, though doubtfully, the Magic can keep up this hot streak. It would be a huge score for the club to get their first championship, especially over Kobe and the Lakers! They sure aren't gonna have the same match up advantages they did against Cleveland but there is a chance if they continue to shoot the 3 ball well.
On a side not, I can't help but feel sorry for LeBron James. Averaging close to 40/8/8/ it has to be one of the great NBA series performances ever! The guy is simply amazing and although I'm a Magic fan, its just a shame the rest of the Cavlaiers ball club forgot to show up for this series! I personally feel Mike Brown has as much to blame for this loss than anyone. The guy was "shown up" in this series and had no answers for the Magic offence. Will be an interesting Summer for their GM for sure!
Cya soon for my first end of month review!
- Rich
Hopefully, though doubtfully, the Magic can keep up this hot streak. It would be a huge score for the club to get their first championship, especially over Kobe and the Lakers! They sure aren't gonna have the same match up advantages they did against Cleveland but there is a chance if they continue to shoot the 3 ball well.
On a side not, I can't help but feel sorry for LeBron James. Averaging close to 40/8/8/ it has to be one of the great NBA series performances ever! The guy is simply amazing and although I'm a Magic fan, its just a shame the rest of the Cavlaiers ball club forgot to show up for this series! I personally feel Mike Brown has as much to blame for this loss than anyone. The guy was "shown up" in this series and had no answers for the Magic offence. Will be an interesting Summer for their GM for sure!
Cya soon for my first end of month review!
- Rich
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Update: Downswing, NBA, Injuries
I've not been playing much the last week due to a huge confidence dent from an 8 buy in downswing over a 3.5k hands session. It was my longest session to date and I ran pretty bad. I lost all my big hands, was set over setted twice etc etc. It really made me question, not only my ability, but the roll im playing with. I currently have 1k online but I feel this is vulnerable, even though I am buying in for $40 at 50NL. I am going to stick with 50NL, but if I drop below my original stake ($600), I will be forced to drop down to 25NL.
Another reason for my lack of hands has been the NBA playoffs. They have been truly amazing this year...certainly the best since the Jordan era. I was lucky enough to catch game 4 vs Boston when I was in Orlando a few weeks back and it is no surprise they are handing it thus far to the Cavs. Orlando have shot pretty well this series and when they do that, they are unbeatable. Saying that, the Cavs have finally not blown a lead and are sending it back to Orlando. I still think the Magic are huge favourites to take one of the last 2 games. In the West, Denver are putting up a good fight but the Lakers should be too good.
In other news, I have joined a lawn bowls club with my dad. I'm currently STILL suffering with tendonitis throughout my body so unable to play much competitive basketball. Although lawn bowls sounds kinda geeky, its actually very enjoyable... especially when I beat my dad!
Ok, thats all for now, will post an end of May review/graph shortly and talk about some June goals.
GL at the tables
Rich.
Another reason for my lack of hands has been the NBA playoffs. They have been truly amazing this year...certainly the best since the Jordan era. I was lucky enough to catch game 4 vs Boston when I was in Orlando a few weeks back and it is no surprise they are handing it thus far to the Cavs. Orlando have shot pretty well this series and when they do that, they are unbeatable. Saying that, the Cavs have finally not blown a lead and are sending it back to Orlando. I still think the Magic are huge favourites to take one of the last 2 games. In the West, Denver are putting up a good fight but the Lakers should be too good.
In other news, I have joined a lawn bowls club with my dad. I'm currently STILL suffering with tendonitis throughout my body so unable to play much competitive basketball. Although lawn bowls sounds kinda geeky, its actually very enjoyable... especially when I beat my dad!
Ok, thats all for now, will post an end of May review/graph shortly and talk about some June goals.
GL at the tables
Rich.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
Failing "Mission 7.5k VPP in 2 weeks"
The grind of earning 7500 VPP's in 2 weeks at 50NL is not as easy as I once thought. I am pretty sure I am not going to make this target, which is a shame, although in hindsight will not prove too costly. After reviewing the promo (which has pissed off many non UK players on Stars), reaching just 3k VPP will reward me with an extra 70K VPP and Platinum Star status till the end of July! Not bad, but really only worth something if I make Supernova this year.
Presently, I am unable to put in long hours due to a "fear of doomswitch" and the fact I have to stack my tables...which can be quite demanding! I am operating under a limited roll and due to past experiences, I am quitting sessions early after I am up just 1 or 2 buy ins. This is silly and just delaying any inevitable bad run of cards. At some point I am going to have to concentrate for longer periods and accept this will increase the emotional strain of playing. :-(
However, I am running nicely thus far, at just under 8bb/100 over 13.5k... may it continue! I have yet to really experience any bad suckouts and in general, feel I'm playing OK. I will begin to post interesting hands shortly.
Will keep you updated!
Rich.
Presently, I am unable to put in long hours due to a "fear of doomswitch" and the fact I have to stack my tables...which can be quite demanding! I am operating under a limited roll and due to past experiences, I am quitting sessions early after I am up just 1 or 2 buy ins. This is silly and just delaying any inevitable bad run of cards. At some point I am going to have to concentrate for longer periods and accept this will increase the emotional strain of playing. :-(
However, I am running nicely thus far, at just under 8bb/100 over 13.5k... may it continue! I have yet to really experience any bad suckouts and in general, feel I'm playing OK. I will begin to post interesting hands shortly.
Will keep you updated!
Rich.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Still playing
Since my last post I believe I spoke about grinding my way back some sort of roll. Well i did. However I then had the dilemma of needing extra cash for a holiday too florida. I cashed out maybe $500. Played HU with the rest ($1500) at 100nl, got doomswitched and broke my final $400 playin 200nl HU. Meh. I took a gamble and lost, I did run very badly and could of quite easily won 3-4k.
I have since enjoyed my Florida holiday, deposited $600 on pokerstars and begun playing again. I have changed the games I play, I am moving to full ring, mainly I feel that 6 max is just so depressing, the dowswings seem sharper and the beats seem more brutal. You gotta be bang on with your reads there else your gonna be slowly bled dry and running bad can be catastrophic to your roll. Not to say this can't happen at full ring. I am having to adjust, but believe my HU and 6max game will help pay dividends eventually.
I have been studying some of the top players at low limit full ring, read their blogs, asked for feedback on some hands (thank you ronfar3) etc etc. This has helped, but to become one of these elite players I am simply going to have to put in the hours and keep re-evaluating my game.
Since returning from Florida with a pretty nice tan, I found out pokerstars was running an unbelievable UK promo for the month of May, typical! (earn 7.5k VPP, receive a bonus 80k VPP next month!) I am going to have to grind my ass off if I am to reap the rewards as I have missed the first half of the month. So far I have earned 1925VPP so am struggling. To complete the reward this is what I must play over my final 10 days.
Average VPP = 0.18 over my first 11k hands (rubbish!)
VPP remaining = 7500 - 1925 = 5575VPP's
Therefore hands to be played = 5575/0.18 = 30,972 hands
Basically, avoiding variance on VPP per hand I need to be aiming for a further 35k hands in 10 days, or 3.5k hands per day.
I am currently averaging ~ 12- 14 tables which at a slight underestimation is 800 hands per hour.
Therefore 3500/800 = 4 and a half hours per day.
Omg, I dont think I can do it...I'm lucky if i get in 2 to 3!
I work aprox 25 hrs per week too, mostly nights and weekend nights (argh, this is when the games are best!)
I hope my GF can understand this...I won't sacrifice her for this, no way.
Will keep you updated!
Rich.
PS. Thank you to ronfar3 for all the help the last few weeks/months. I realize I can be a pest at times when I PM you with 4 hands per day to look over. Your a top bloke and a great poker player.
I have since enjoyed my Florida holiday, deposited $600 on pokerstars and begun playing again. I have changed the games I play, I am moving to full ring, mainly I feel that 6 max is just so depressing, the dowswings seem sharper and the beats seem more brutal. You gotta be bang on with your reads there else your gonna be slowly bled dry and running bad can be catastrophic to your roll. Not to say this can't happen at full ring. I am having to adjust, but believe my HU and 6max game will help pay dividends eventually.
I have been studying some of the top players at low limit full ring, read their blogs, asked for feedback on some hands (thank you ronfar3) etc etc. This has helped, but to become one of these elite players I am simply going to have to put in the hours and keep re-evaluating my game.
Since returning from Florida with a pretty nice tan, I found out pokerstars was running an unbelievable UK promo for the month of May, typical! (earn 7.5k VPP, receive a bonus 80k VPP next month!) I am going to have to grind my ass off if I am to reap the rewards as I have missed the first half of the month. So far I have earned 1925VPP so am struggling. To complete the reward this is what I must play over my final 10 days.
Average VPP = 0.18 over my first 11k hands (rubbish!)
VPP remaining = 7500 - 1925 = 5575VPP's
Therefore hands to be played = 5575/0.18 = 30,972 hands
Basically, avoiding variance on VPP per hand I need to be aiming for a further 35k hands in 10 days, or 3.5k hands per day.
I am currently averaging ~ 12- 14 tables which at a slight underestimation is 800 hands per hour.
Therefore 3500/800 = 4 and a half hours per day.
Omg, I dont think I can do it...I'm lucky if i get in 2 to 3!
I work aprox 25 hrs per week too, mostly nights and weekend nights (argh, this is when the games are best!)
I hope my GF can understand this...I won't sacrifice her for this, no way.
Will keep you updated!
Rich.
PS. Thank you to ronfar3 for all the help the last few weeks/months. I realize I can be a pest at times when I PM you with 4 hands per day to look over. Your a top bloke and a great poker player.
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