CardRunners

I can't find my last year's resolutions, so I'll look at 2007's.  It is quite embarrassing to not have most of these completed:

            Get in shape with abs diet

            Stay in touch with/hang out with friends more

            Quit procrastinating/stay busy

            Try to keep poker separate from other parts of life

           

            Poker Goals

                        Be at 5/10 by end of year

                        Keep controlling tilt

                        Have a 10k profit month by april

                        Post more hands in forum/blog

Keep bankroll growing, move up to 1/2 NL by end of jan., 2/4 by end of april, 3/6 by end of September, 5/10 by end of dec. (30 buyin rule)

Win a decent sized tourney ($5k+)

Put in consistent hours/specific times to play, not here and there

Only play more than 5 tables when comfortable

No whining about bad beats to other people

 

It's 2 years later, I'm in the same shape (maybe 5-10 pounds lighter), I still procrastinate and most of these poker goals have yet to be met.  I think they are a bit unrealistic, but this was when the games were good.  And that january I made $6k, then $9k in february, and then it went to shit.  I don't know if I changed, or the games did so much, but I haven't had a month over $3k since then.  I think my confidence is still shot a bit since then.  Maybe I was just overly confident, who knows.  But here are some new goals:

Get a REAL job.  This is so important.  I desperately need a job right now so I can have a steady income and stop worrying about my bills and whatnot.  Then my poker bankroll can grow.

Get a flat stomach.  Not realistic, I've tried, I just think I have to keep sticking to a healthy diet that doesn't veer off for a month or so.  That's what kills it.

Continue to stay focused throughout the day.  So many days I find myself procrastinating and not getting anything accomplished.  This is the time to take risks and make money, and yet I sit here.  Part of this is that I have to focus most of my attention on finding a job and being able to support myself.  After that, I can begin looking into investments and whatnot.

Poker:

Reach supernova.  Definitely doable, I'm at stars for good, I can do this.
Make $50k.  Also doable.  But only if I focus, try not to tilt, and continue to work on my game.
Be at 1/2 by year's end.  Also doable.
Win a tourney for more than $5k.  I always put this on here, but I always come up short.  Maybe some day, that'd be an awesome feeling.


I don't whine about bad beats to anyone anymore, so that's good.  And I try to put in solid hours when I can, not just f'in around.

But what's most important to me is being happy and having my girlfriend happy.  This always seems to hold true, and I hope that continues.  She's the most important person to me in the world, she's really all I need.

...but i also need a job.


gl,

Andy

Wow, the new blog software looks awesome.  And the counts reset, which is awesome.  It's time to bring my blog back into existence and be among the top viewed blogs :)

I may try to update everyday, we'll see how that goes.  Maybe I should, and then I can motivate myself to play everyday and work on saving up money for an early retirement.  I mean really, it wouldn't be hard to make an extra 30-40k playing poker every year, and that money can go straight into investments.  If only I could get a full time job now...

I bubbled a few satelites to the sunday million yesterday, which was utterly ridiculous.  One of them I got lucky to get as far as I did.  But the other one gave out 3 seats, I was chipleader with 4 left, but no one knows how to play that situation.  I ended up trying to take out the shorties and got continually screwed over.  2 of the medium stacks even got it all in with KJ vs. JJ.  They were about even, but they both made a miracle river straight :(  If that goes unsplit, I would've won.  I'm quite upset about that bubble, but I think I'll breakthrough one of these days and win like 5 seats in a day.

One of my goals is to try a bunch of these satelites over the next week and a half and then buy in directly to the 650 qualifier.  Maybe I'll buy into a satelite into the 650 qualifier.  For the PCA that is.  What a sweet gift that'd be for my gf.

Anyway, I need to get to some of my freelance real estate work, then it's off to more poker :)

Go new blogs!

gl,
Andy

I have officially decided to make Stars my only poker site.  I will keep money on FTP, but probably not too much.  The reason for this is to change up the scene if I have a bad run on stars.  This helped last month, netting me 1k on FTP.  However, I prefer the layout, players, speed, betting and just about everything at stars.  I do like FTPs tourneys more, but there's just more for me at Stars.

I have 2 goals laid out for stars for next year.  One being achieving supernova, the other is to win at least 10k in a tourney score.  I think these are both achievable because of the structure I hope to implement whenever I get a job.  That being once I get home, I relax a bit, then fire up some cash game tables or 2 cash and 2 tourneys.  I probably won't be doing more than 4 tabling because I like to be with the roommates in the living room in the evenings.  Every once in awhile, I may do some 8 tabling in my room.

But, for tourneys, this is what I'm planning.  I really hate playing the low limit tourneys for $3, or $10 or whatever, and trying to fight through 2k+ players to the good payouts at the final table.  It's really frustrating, so I won't be able to do that.  What I do plan on doing is sateliting into the sunday million, or warm-up, or whatever big weekly tourneys there are, unregistering, and taking the tourney dollars to play in other smaller tourneys ($30-$100) and to play in more satelites.  I started this the other day, winning my first sunday million seat of this project (I've played the million a couple times before).  Then I won another yesterday.  But I've spent a lot of those tourney dollars and am down to about $200.  Which is fine, but I've had a lot of close scores for more tourney dollars.  And in the weeks where I win maybe 3-4 tourney seats, I'll actually play the million or the warm up.  This way I can play some of the lower field tourneys that have bigger payouts.

My ultimate goal, as lofty as this is, is to pay off my student loans next year.  I've never won a ton at this game in a year, but if I can win 60-75k, I can save some and pay off my student loans (which is about 40k).  I think if I dedicate myself to this structure, it is definitely doable.  I'm way behind on saving for the future, which is starting to be very important to me, so hopefully I can do this...and run well!

I don't want to complain really, but I've had some ridic bad luck in tourneys lately.  I lost KK to J4o one day, HU, then the next day I lost KK to 10 8 on 2 different tables within 2 minutes of each other.  Then last night AA to J10.  I'm ok with losing races, but when I have an overpair to 2 unders, I should be running a lot better than this, it's just awful.  I'm hanging tough with them, but once things get back on track, I should be in a much better mood.

But I think my ultimate goal for the year is to get less clutter and more structure.  I started doing this before, but I really need to work on it some more.  This will include getting rid of a LOT of stuff.  I may just take one day next year to clear out a lot of crap.  Anyway, I need to get to the day, I have it structured.

<div style="height:140px;width:100%;"><a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/blog_tournament/"&g...


Crappy update I guess.  I haven't written in my blog in almost 2 months!  But that's mainly because I'm waiting for the new blog software to come out.

I've been busy looking for jobs still and having a few part time jobs to keep my head above water.  Last month I worked my FTP roll from 200 to 1200, so that's pretty cool.  Main reason being that I lost about 7-8 buyins on stars full ring, 100nl.  It sucked, so I needed a change.  It did well because the last couple times I've played on stars I've done amazing, winning back 3-4 buyins or so.  I even won a 400bb pot my first day back at 100nl 6 max.  It was AA vs. KK and I think I played it very well, committing the guy easily.

I'm gonna be playing more tournaments though, looking for a big score to help me out in my financial difficulties.  I'm not hurting too bad really, but it'd be nice to get a 3-5k cushion in the bank  account.  Therefore, I shall be trying some tourneys when I have time.  Or just making myself play more in the evenings even though I like to hang with my roommates once they get back from work.  But I can easily have 2 tourneys going on and still relax with them.

Anyway, I'm still waiting for the new blogs! 

<div style="height:140px;width:100%;"><a href="http://www.pokerstars.com/blog_tournament/"&g...
Crappy update I guess.  I haven't written in my blog in almost 2 months!  But that's mainly because I'm waiting for the new blog software to come out.

I've been busy looking for jobs still and having a few part time jobs to keep my head above water.  Last month I worked my FTP roll from 200 to 1200, so that's pretty cool.  Main reason being that I lost about 7-8 buyins on stars full ring, 100nl.  It sucked, so I needed a change.  It did well because the last couple times I've played on stars I've done amazing, winning back 3-4 buyins or so.  I even won a 400bb pot my first day back at 100nl 6 max.  It was AA vs. KK and I think I played it very well, committing the guy easily.

I'm gonna be playing more tournaments though, looking for a big score to help me out in my financial difficulties.  I'm not hurting too bad really, but it'd be nice to get a 3-5k cushion in the bank  account.  Therefore, I shall be trying some tourneys when I have time.  Or just making myself play more in the evenings even though I like to hang with my roommates once they get back from work.  But I can easily have 2 tourneys going on and still relax with them.

Anyway, I'm still waiting for the new blogs! 

I tried out full ring a couple weeks ago and proceeded to dominate there.  I don't know exactly why, but I think it's because the players are less aggressive and just plain more stupid.  Put those together and you get people doing some crazy stuff.  Like right now I had this hand, which I'll describe since my PT is weird right now.

I raise 99 in MP to $4, get two callers, I'm in position.

6AA flop, donk leads for $3, I'm the only caller.

Turn: 3, he leads again for $3, I raise to $8, to keep him in because I believe I have the best hand now but he has something weak.  He calls $5.

River: Q.  He checks.  I think about it for awhile and shove, he calls his last $20 with 68, I scoop.   It's pretty insane that that's considered a value shove.  It felt right, and plays like that seem to be standard.

Anyway, I'm on a pretty good heater right now, and it's not that I'm running insane or something.  I've had days of running KK into AA a couple times, QQ into KK and others, but I manage to get away with only losing 2-3 buyins at most.  Most of my sessions seem to be 1-2 hours of 8 tabling with me profitting 200-300 on average.  So it's going well to say the least.

I'm still looking for a job and am getting pretty annoyed by it all.  But starting monday I'm going to start cold calling places.  I read that this is the way to get jobs since most jobs aren't announced.  So we'll see how it goes, I'm kinda nervous but what's the worst that could happen?  I got a bit of a wake up call because one of my friends, who I lived with the last 2 years and did the same master's program as me is also having a tough time looking for a job.  So tough that she's moving back home.  So I feel very very fortunate to have poker.  I started really cranking out the hours this past month and am up about $3k since Aug. 25th, which is quite a good sum for me this year.  I think I'll aim for $5k this october.  It shouldn't be a problem since I have the time to put in the hours.  I'm already up $250 :)

Also, we're getting screwed by comcast who's charging us for keeping the equipment late from my last apartment.  Which what happened is that my old roommate's new roommate was going to take care of it, but then went into drug rehab.  If anyone has any advice or way to get around the $650 late fee, let me know.  We're gonna try to get out of it, but we'll see.

Anyway, hope all is going well with everyone.  I should try to update more.

Andy

Soul Read:

 

PokerStars Game #20170570495:  HORSE (7 Card Stud Limit, $2/$4) - 2008/09/05 15:56:18 ET
Table 'Antilochus III' 8-max
Seat 1: Horseheir ($77 in chips)
Seat 2: reallymadbob ($53.25 in chips)
Seat 3: maury71 ($95 in chips)
Seat 4: MadSteady ($59.50 in chips)
Seat 5: POPO8 ($70.75 in chips)
Seat 8: allblacks26 ($220 in chips)
allblacks26: posts the ante $0.25
Horseheir: posts the ante $0.25
reallymadbob: posts the ante $0.25
maury71: posts the ante $0.25
MadSteady: posts the ante $0.25
irtekaz has returned
POPO8: posts the ante $0.25
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to Horseheir [3d]
Dealt to reallymadbob [5c]
Dealt to maury71 [2c]
Dealt to MadSteady [5d]
Dealt to POPO8 [8d]
Dealt to allblacks26 [8s As 3h]
maury71: brings in for $1
MadSteady: folds
POPO8: folds
Kawishiwi joins the table at seat #7
allblacks26: calls $1
Horseheir: folds
reallymadbob: folds
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to maury71 [2c] [6d]
Dealt to allblacks26 [8s As 3h] [Tc]
allblacks26: checks
POPO8 leaves the table
maury71: checks
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to maury71 [2c 6d] [4d]
Dealt to allblacks26 [8s As 3h Tc] [Td]
allblacks26: bets $4
maury71: calls $4
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to maury71 [2c 6d 4d] [Ad]
Dealt to allblacks26 [8s As 3h Tc Td] [6c]
allblacks26: checks
maury71: bets $4
allblacks26: calls $4
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to allblacks26 [8s As 3h Tc Td 6c] [4h]
allblacks26: checks
maury71: bets $4
allblacks26: calls $4
*** SHOW DOWN ***
maury71: shows [3c 7d 2c 6d 4d Ad 6s] (a pair of Sixes)
allblacks26: shows [8s As 3h Tc Td 6c 4h] (a pair of Tens)
allblacks26 collected $26.50 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $27.50 | Rake $1
Seat 1: Horseheir folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 2: reallymadbob folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 3: maury71 showed [3c 7d 2c 6d 4d Ad 6s] and lost with a pair of Sixes
Seat 4: MadSteady folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 5: POPO8 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 8: allblacks26 showed [8s As 3h Tc Td 6c 4h] and won ($26.50) with a pair of Tens

 

Very next hand, the run good:

PokerStars Game #20170599505:  HORSE (7 Card Stud Limit, $2/$4) - 2008/09/05 15:57:28 ET
Table 'Antilochus III' 8-max
Seat 1: Horseheir ($76.75 in chips)
Seat 2: reallymadbob ($53 in chips)
Seat 3: maury71 ($81.75 in chips)
Seat 4: MadSteady ($59.25 in chips)
Seat 6: irtekaz ($71.75 in chips)
Seat 7: Kawishiwi ($80 in chips)
Seat 8: allblacks26 ($233.25 in chips)
Kawishiwi: posts the ante $0.25
allblacks26: posts the ante $0.25
Horseheir: posts the ante $0.25
reallymadbob: posts the ante $0.25
maury71: posts the ante $0.25
MadSteady: posts the ante $0.25
irtekaz: posts the ante $0.25
*** 3rd STREET ***
Dealt to Horseheir [6h]
Dealt to reallymadbob [6c]
Dealt to maury71 [9h]
Dealt to MadSteady [3h]
Dealt to irtekaz [Kh]
Dealt to Kawishiwi [Ah]
Dealt to allblacks26 [Th Qd Jd]
MadSteady: brings in for $1
irtekaz: calls $1
Kawishiwi: folds
allblacks26: calls $1
Horseheir: folds
reallymadbob: calls $1
maury71: folds
*** 4th STREET ***
Dealt to reallymadbob [6c] [7c]
Dealt to MadSteady [3h] [Qc]
Dealt to irtekaz [Kh] [4d]
Dealt to allblacks26 [Th Qd Jd] [Ad]
allblacks26: bets $2
reallymadbob: calls $2
MadSteady: folds
irtekaz: calls $2
*** 5th STREET ***
Dealt to reallymadbob [6c 7c] [Js]
Dealt to irtekaz [Kh 4d] [6d]
Dealt to allblacks26 [Th Qd Jd Ad] [5d]
allblacks26: bets $4
reallymadbob: calls $4
irtekaz: folds
*** 6th STREET ***
Dealt to reallymadbob [6c 7c Js] [8s]
Dealt to allblacks26 [Th Qd Jd Ad 5d] [Kd]
allblacks26: bets $4
reallymadbob: calls $4
*** RIVER ***
Dealt to allblacks26 [Th Qd Jd Ad 5d Kd] [Td]
allblacks26: bets $4
reallymadbob: calls $4
*** SHOW DOWN ***
allblacks26: shows [Th Qd Jd Ad 5d Kd Td] (a Royal Flush)
reallymadbob: shows [8c 7d 6c 7c Js 8s 2h] (two pair, Eights and Sevens)
allblacks26 collected $34.75 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $35.75 | Rake $1
Seat 1: Horseheir folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 2: reallymadbob showed [8c 7d 6c 7c Js 8s 2h] and lost with two pair, Eights and Sevens
Seat 3: maury71 folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 4: MadSteady folded on the 4th Street
Seat 6: irtekaz folded on the 5th Street
Seat 7: Kawishiwi folded on the 3rd Street (didn't bet)
Seat 8: allblacks26 showed [Th Qd Jd Ad 5d Kd Td] and won ($34.75) with a Royal Flush
 

Well it's been awhile since I posted and it's plainly because I haven't felt like it.  I don't know why.  I thought I was getting burnt out on poker, but I've been rejuvenated with a lot of game play.  I had a +$1k week last week, my best week in a long long time.  That included a $500 day, no tourneys.  For me, that's really good.  I've been needing to get the hours in.

I have been trying to play so much more and my results are showing.  I started up the 7 card stud again and I don't think I've had more than maybe 1 losing session.  Everyone is so so bad at stud, it's stupid not to take advantage of my edge there.  I've been playing 2/4 with some 3/6 mixed in.  I've also been playing pretty well at 100nl 6 max, when I can contain myself from bluffing the stations.  It's frustrating sometimes, but I think I have to keep a really straightforward game at these limits.  Stud as well.  I find myself out-leveling myself which is never good.  I think these players are capable of advanced plays in stud, but they are not, they are very very straightforward.  That makes it an easy game.

I will be playing a lot more in the coming weeks, if not longer.  I want to get in a lot of hours and start making some real money again.  This summer was bad because I didn't get enough hands in at all.  But I did have quite possibly the best summer ever with my girlfriend.  That's for another entry though.  For now, I'll be playing a lot of wcoop satellites, mainly steps, so I can try to have a big score in the wcoop.  I'll also be playing more stud than nlhe I think, but who knows.  Look for me on stars, allblacks26.

GL,

Andy