Damn it’s been a while since I posted. Seems I take alot of breaks from updating the blog.
What’s happened since the last entry? Well I busted again (surprise, surprise), but seem to have got things back on track in the last couple of days funnily enough…
First thing’s first, I’m back to cash games.
Secondly - I’ve moved site to Pokerstars and really want to know why I didn’t move earlier.
Thirdly - I’m in profit!
So the plan is definately going well, I’ve just broken $200 in my bankroll for the first time - although I cheated the buyin rules a little to do it. I’ve been playing $10+1 buy in STTs and doing a good job of cashing - my winnings report in PT3 for January says I won net $132.50, which is an ROI of 39.49%. Not too shabby!
Balance: $205.83
Well it seems to all be going according to plan. I am sticking to playing STTs - except for a brief try at FTPs new Rush Poker format where of course I lost money - and I am in profit for the month so far. Played 7 STTs today, won 3, came third in 2 and busted out in 2. Only one of those loses was to a bad decision on my part so overall I’m pretty happy with the results. Bankroll is creeping up again nicely.
Balance: $152.65
This year is the year I crack my game and make profit!
The plan is:
Wish me luck.
So 2009 is over and 2010 has arrived - just two years to go to the apocalypse if you believe all the age of aquarius nutters out there!
Back to reality and this year promises to be a big year of change for me as our first child is on the way - I’m very excited - I wonder how long before she can hold a set of cards…..?
As for poker, I’m not been playing much recently as I’ve not been in the mood to play “properly” so instead of throwing my money away I’ve been playing World of Warcraft. Six level 80’s so far and one more on the way.
However I did take time out last night to play a small buy in MTT and got my best result in an MTT so far - I came second which I’m pleased with as it shows me I can play the longer tournaments and still cash. Admittedly I was sitting on the sofa drinking beer and watching QI at the same time so maybe that the secret - be relaxed and have something to amuse you in between playable hands.
At the moment I am winning more than losing - the way it needs to be to build this bankroll.
Balance: $142.56
One thing I have failed to mention in my previous three posts is that I have wiped my poker tracker database and started a fresh one. It has spurred my interest in reading the database and stats properly and having an upward trend graph on the winnings tab is great motivation to play well!
You can clearly see the three tournaments I came first in - the three corresponding upward leaps in the graph! OK so I know it’s not alot of money and it’s only three tournaments, but it’s a start. Start as you mean to go on.
In my last post I noted that I had reloaded - $50.01 to be precise - and that I was taking a break to play Warcraft. Well I’ve just got my Warlock to Level 80 (that’s six max level chars now) and so I decided to hit the tables again. On Tuesday evening I played a bunch of $1.20 buy in STTs and only managed to cash in two of them. Down $6.00 on that evening. Friday played in a couple of £2.25 STTs, finished 5th in one 6th in the other. Not the kind of performance I was looking for. Down another $4.50.
Then today I broke the buyin rules (which I’m not supposed to do) to test a nagging thought that had been floating around in the back of my mind.
I usually only cash when I’m playing in an STT with a prize worth winning. Which for me is usually the $10+1 buy in bracket which pays out $45.00 for first place.
So today I have played in four STTS -
In game two I had two hands that were beaten on the river which busted me out - I should have been playing tighter as I went out on the eighteenth hand.
So it looks like there might be something in my theory about only being motivated to play in games that don’t take too long and have a good payout. This of course is totally at odds with the standard bankroll management rules as my bankroll is clearly too low to support this buy in level. I think I am going to play the occasional $10 of an evening and see how the roll holds up. If I get below $50 again I’ll have to drop down a level or two and build up again - which is contradictory I know, but I can see no other way forward.
Balance: $87.30
