Should have stayed at home

Every now and then I get an urge to go play some live poker. And everytime I do, I regret it within a couple of hours. Tonight I went and played a £150 semi-freezout at big slick, pompey's new poker room. I played pretty well for the 1st couple of hours and then, as always, my concentration went. I couldnt think a hand through and I made terrible mistakes. I got lucky with about 22 people left (9 paid) when I got all-in pre with A8s vs AK and binked. After a break and some red bull I forced myself to concentrate. Then with 14 left I get 30k of my 50k stack in (blinds 1.5k-3k) with AA to lose to AK. Flop came down J62 and Im counting the pot...... Turn Q...... River 10. Then after a few steals Im back to about 45k when I shove utg with AQss and get called by AQdd and obv I lose, 2 off the money.

Losing in these spots doesnt really bother me that much anymore, that's poker. Both situations were 100% standard. What really bothers me is that Iv played for over 7 hours and not cashed. I just wish I had of busted earlier with A8 and then Id be in bed right now cuddled up with my beautiful girl. As it is its 4am and I feel like shit, but after 2 cans of red bull I really couldnt sleep right now. Even when there were about 18 people left I really just wanted to leave. Id have settled for my money back at that point just to be able to go, despite having an above average stack. Seriously Im never playing live poker again, not unless its a 1k+. And its not because I hate socialising or anything, they're some cool people there who I get on with.

Despite the £150 buy-in the standard was so fucking awful, I mean so so bad. There was 1 guy at my 1st table who didnt even know how to play, like at all. And late on in the tourney when blinds are at 1.5k-3k and the average stack is about 40k people are making it 10k. That is so fucking bad in tournament poker. I even saw people make it 4-5x big blind with 15BB's then fold to a shove.

Another thing that annoyed me is I got moved table and the 1st hand I made a 'unique' play and won a decent pot. And some of the regular players were kinda looking at each other and commenting how bad I am etc. I know that shouldnt bother me (in fact I can use it to my advantage), but it does. Especially when I see these people limp fold the button to a 6x shove. I dont think its an ego thing. I dont think Im some poker super-star, far from it. Ill happily admit that Im not a great player. I have loads of weakness's (which im working on). Fortunately there's a ton of worse players that make it profitable for me.

Havnt been playing much since my last post, Iv been feeling ill and not in the mood. Played the miniFTOPS main event and some PKR live sats but no good. Down about $500 maybe. Going to 'Love Albert rd day' 2moro which should be fun. Then need to start grinding again monday. Iv handed my notice in at the pub so Im now relying 100% on income from poker :O

Inglourious Basterds and running good

The last couple of weeks have been going very well for me. Im up over 4k this month so far, pretty much all at 1/2. Strangely Im actually playing less 2/4 than I was. Iv always had poor bankroll management control but tbh Iv never really had much of a roll since I started playing. Iv always struggled to build my roll, partly because I always have to withdraw money and partly because Iv only ever had a marginal win rate. I feel that my game is the best its ever been, although that could be because Im running so far above expectation.

Anyways Iv never really got over 3k, and because of this I was always happy to play 2/4 to try and run good and build it up. This approach lead me to going broke a couple of times. Now Iv finally got a roll that is ok to be playing 1/2 with, I want to be more sensible. But if the 2/4 games are good I just cant resist. I think 30 buy-ins is fine to be playing most stakes, especially in games with lower variance which 1/2 on PKR defiantly are. Some poker players will say you need more than 30 BI's but thats just very nitty imo.

I finally got Holdem Manager set up on PKR. I used to use it on FT but since switching sites I havnt used it as its not compatible and you need to get another program which converts hand history's blah blah blah. Anyway my HUD still doesnt work but Im not that bothered. I think alot of players rely too much on HUD's. I used to swear by it but I think you can miss so many good spots because your just looking at stats. I just want it to track my results and make it easier to analyse my game. I may even post some screenshots here if I work out how to do it.

In other news Im going to play pool for the brewers. Iv always played for my local pub but decided I need a new challenge. Although my team's easily in the top 10 in Pompey, the brewers are a bit better plus with me I think they'll be maybe the best team in Pompey. That might sound a bit big headed, but Im pretty awesome at pool. I know most of the lads and I think Ill enjoy it more which is ultimately what its all about.

Saw inglourious basterds tonight and it was easily the best film Iv seen this year. Quentin Tarantino is an absolute genius and, if possible, underrated. If you havnt seen it yet, I highly recommend it you do.

Gl to manic boy in the HORSE ftops 2nite as I have 50%. Be nice to make some money whilst asleep lol

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

A couple of people who read my last blog have spoke to me about it and were like 'How can you be so annoyed at winning $400?'. The thing is, I want to be an great poker player and play as near to perfect as my brain will let me. I hate making mistakes, especially one's that are so easily avoided. Iv been playing over a year now and feel like its time to step up a level, that iv served my apprenticeship in poker if you like. Iv built up decent fundamentals and a game that can make an ok living. But thats not enough, not by a long way. Dont get me wrong, $400 is a decent win, id be super happy to make that every session obv.

I think im an intelligent person, probably more so than most 2/4, 3/6 and 5/10 regs imvho. So in theory if I apply myself correctly, analyse and think about my game, cut out silly mistakes and focus then I should be able to be a decent winner eventually in those games right? I think its a safe assumption that poker ability has a direct correlation with intellect, albeit with a few anomalies.

Anyways Iv had a couple of good days at the pokers. My roll was at $2800 2days ago and is now $5150. That includes my rakeback which was about $400. Im writing this from gunwharf whilst on a break. I started out 2day 1 tabling (because I was eating) 2/4 with 3 HUGH fish. Managed to run my $400 stack upto $1500 and then also win a bit on some other tables. Currently up about 1.3k. Running pretty hot atm which is always nice.

Bittersweet

Iv just finished a session in which I made about $450. And yet im really pissed off with myself. I felt like I was playing really well, seeing good spots, value betting thin, reading peoples hands etc and I was up over $800. And then I lost about $350 in 3 hands simultaneously. In all of these hands I made horrible mistakes, making a terrible bluff, and calling off in spots when I KNOW im beat. As my mouse hovers over the call button I know its the wrong move and yet I still fucking click it.... WHY??!!!!!?? Because im a fucking donk.

One-way ticket to retardville for me!!!

Quick Update

My bankroll has been hovering around the $3500 mark for the last week until 2day where i dropped a few buy ins in about 400 hands in some really sick spots, so down to $2800ish. Still havnt had my August rakeback yet so that'll boost it back up a bit. Im really tilted right now so not gona play for rest of the day. Its a vicious circle when you have a bad session. You lose some money and you just want to play and win it back, but your in a poor mindset so you cant. Im going to go out now and have few drinks then out bowling 2nite and not think about poker and hopefully be refreshed to play lots 2moro.

Jamie

What a turn-around

After my masters cash, I withdraw some leaving me 2k. I was down to $1600 at one point but now upto $3340. Im also due my August rakeback anytime now which I expect to be around $500. It's nice to be winning at the cash tables again after a mini downswing. Its such a massive turn-around from how I felt just before my masters cash. Im still playing mostly 1/2 with a bit of 2/4 mixed in. I still dont feel comfortably playing 2/4 at the moment. My roll just isnt big enough and its just poor bankroll management. Iv played three 1k+ pots in the past few days (winning 2). Everytime the money went in on the flop meaning there's more cards to come. Even getting money in as a 70% favourite, you still have to dodge a lot of cards and when the pots are so big its very nerve-racking. But if I had a big roll it wouldn't effect me much. Like at 1/2, Im completely happy putting all my money in the middle in marginal situations if I think its the right play.

Iv been thinking about how sick the money in poker is compared to real life. A standard pot at 2/4 might go something like this. I open to $14, the button call as does the big blind. I make a continuation bet of say $35 on the flop and get 1 caller. So far the pots $114 and this is a completely normal situation. Now if I decide to bluff or value bet the turn with a bet of maybe $73 and get called the pots $260. Thats a weeks wages to some people. And yet in poker you can win or lose that (or alot more) on the turn of a card. It's such a sick world.

Gl at the tables poker players, and gl in life everyone else