Last day of 2005...

I played another session last night after my last post and ended up quiting down ~ 20bb. It was getting late and I was ready for bed. I found myself not focusing like I should. I had the television on and was watching comedy central best of 2005, pam anderson roast, and chris rock. Really funny shit. I am excited to see that they are going to air the last of Dave Chappelle's shows that were in production when he had his tiff with CC. The man is absolutely funny.

I woke up this morning and was doing some pokertracker maintenance and while I was importing hands I looked to see if there wre any games going on. Unfortunetly there were no .5/1 games. I broke my bankroll guidelines and decided to sit in a 1/2 game. I hit a good hand early and made ~12bb. It didnt stay long though. I was quickly back to my starting chip count, and actually down ~15 bb at one point. The table turned ultra tight so I decided to look for another game with a little looser players. It sucked at one point when some jackass chased bottom pair and hit a set on the river to my AA. I like seeing that though because I just made a new friend. I didnt have any stats on this person, but played about 60 hands with them. I will be sure to look for themin the future. They ended up paying me off several times after that so I forgive them for being a fucking tool.

I havent seen my buddy joe around lately, so I added a couple of the other minnows from the 1/2 game to my freinds list. Hopefully joe will return and if not at least i have some other retirement sources. I noticed some major loser at my table one guy was down ~300 over a couple 100 hands. I like seeing that obviously this person has major leaks in their game.

I hope I can find a .5/1 game tonight. I am really weary of playing the 1/2 game, even though I have beat it in the past. I just dont want to go bust again.

So I finished my morning session earlier than I would have liked, I only played ~200 hands. I did notice my bonus rate clearing faster. It seems that at 1/2 the average pot is raked $0.75 so it would only take 450 hands to clear $20 vs. the 1200-1300 at .5/1. Maybe by the time I get my rakeback my bankroll will have grown enough to comfortably play the 1/2 without the risk of busting.

I finished session +10bb
bankroll sits at $138.15

I was able to recoup my losses from last night and clear 25% towards my next $20 bonus release

Played a morning session. I decided to two-table in order to clear my deposit bonus faster.

Both tables were extremely tight.

table 1 I played 190 hands and finshed +0.25bb
table 2 I played 187 hands and finished - 30bb

pretty dissapointing session. I can contribute part of my loss on table 2 to being dealt TT and floping set on uncoordinated board. against aggressive player who had AA, river was A, and i lost.

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played a short 15 min session after lunch 18 hands in 15 mins. I thought I was playing in a casino as slow as it was going.
anyway I finished session +14bb

I wont be playing til later tonight because I have some things to do for my wife. I hope to be able to play a long session tonight of ~400 hands after the kids go to bed. I should be able to clear $20 in bonus $ in my next session. I need $30 more in rake. with the average pot being raked $.25 that will require 120 hands.

I know I am playing over my bankroll right now by playing .5/1 limit I should be playing .1/.25 but those games are just too fishy, and clearing a bonus at those levels i just about impossible. So I will take my risks at .5/1. provided I can keep my head above water until I get some rakeback I should be fine. These games might be fishy in their own right but at least I am able to clear a bonus even if it is excruciatingly slow. It clears.

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fired up the computer to observe some tables and noticed 2 short handed games going on. 1 with 2 players and one with 3 players. Being the short-handed junkie that I am I sat in on the 3 handed game. as soon as I sat one of the other players left. I knew I wouldnt be able to play long but couldnt resist.

played a whopping 7 hands, and pretty much just stole or defended blinds. I never was invloved in a hand that went to the turn.
finished +3bb

had to stop to cook dinner for the wife. I had to send her back to the grocery though so sat in on another short handed game. The game filled up after a few hands so I ducked out.
finished +.5bb

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While I was waiting on some tasty stuffed chicken breast to cook I sat in a full table. the table was pretty LP when I sat with 37/5 but a couple ppl left and the game turned more AG with the PFR going to 15.

Only played 18 hands when I was finished. Man these idiots are playing slow tonight. must be some drinking going on.
Anyway I finished +4.75bb

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played a little more after dinner maybe 20-30 hands. Got an IM from a friend at pokerfox.net and then my table broke apart.
ended session + 8bb

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evening session was interesting I sat at a short handed table, and after 20 or 30 hands the table filled up. It was a true maniacal table. $20-$30 pots the table average was $10 on a .5/1 limit table. I had some scores, some suck outs, and some river steals. Really a crazy table. I decided I should probably quit when I was +10bb after 100 hands. I'll take it. I recovered my morning losses and scrapped up a profit for the day. I also cleared $20 in bonus and the bankroll now sits at $136.65.

I have alot of bonus $ left to clear on Fulltilt which is where I have been playing, but I did the math and playing .5/1 tables I have to play ~1300 hands to clear $20. its a tough grind. I am getting a 27% rakeback but over the same amount of hands that adds up to ~$9. I'll be glad when I get my bankroll back up to where I can comfortably play $2/$4.

I've set up an excel spreadsheet outlining my goals next year. Unless I go on a crazy rush I wont be playing 2/4 until the end of March. I have figured in to withdrawl my losses at the end of June at a rate of $1k per week and taking the family on a vacation in July. That coincides with my wifes birthday so I am going to try and set up something fun.

I am actually ahead of schedule with my goals. I did not include any outstanding rakeback or deposit bonuses in my figures. I am very optimistic about my prospects of reaching my goals for 2k6.

I played a short session tonight of only 27 hands. I am pretty tired and not feelng like I am on my game.

I had only logged in to observe games and happened to search for one of my favorite fish friends. I'll call him Joe. Joe is a typical calling station but he seems to squeeze out some wins. There is no bluffing Joe, but he will gladly play me off because of my aggressive style he has to make sure that I am not bluffing him. I always sit with joe to my right and joined the waiting list for his table. The table was relatively tight for a micro limit game 36 VP$P/7.2 PFR when I sat down.

I only got involved in one or two hands and was at -0.75bb when I decided I shouldnt be playing tonight. I decided to play until I was even. I had a small loss and was down 9bb when I got involved in the following hand with joe.

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$0.50/$1 - Limit Hold'em - 20:03:51 ET - 2005/12/29
Seat 1: Dr ($9.75)
Seat 2: SL ($16.25)
Seat 3: scary($41)
Seat 4: ic ($9)
Seat 5: sn ($28.75)
Seat 6: OR ($15.25)
Seat 7: nb ($24.50)
Seat 8: ds7 ($15.75)
Seat 9: joe($73.75)
Sn posts the small blind of $0.25
0Re posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #4
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to scary [As Qc]
nb folds
ds7 calls $0.50
joe raises to $1
Dr folds
SL folds
scary raises to $1.50
ic folds
Sn folds
0R calls $1
ds7 calls $1
joe raises to $2
scary calls $0.50
0R calls $0.50
ds7 calls $0.50
*** FLOP *** [Jh 4c 4d]
0R checks
ds7 checks
joe checks
scary bets $0.50
0R calls $0.50
ds7 calls $0.50
joe calls $0.50
*** TURN *** [Jh 4c 4d] [8d]
0R checks
ds7 checks
joe checks
scary bets $1
0R folds
ds17 folds
joe calls $1
*** RIVER *** [Jh 4c 4d 8d] [8c]
joe0 checks
scary bets $1
joe calls $1
*** SHOW DOWN ***
scary shows [As Qc] (two pair, Eights and Fours)
joe mucks
scary wins the pot ($13.75) with two pair, Eights and Fours
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $14.25 | Rake $0.50
Board: [Jh 4c 4d 8d 8c]
Seat 1: Dr didn't bet (folded)

Seat 4: ic ($9)
Seat 5: sn ($28.75)
Seat 6: OR ($15.25)
Seat 7: nb ($24.50)
Seat 8: ds7 ($15.75)
Seat 9: joe($7

Seat 2: SL didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: scary showed [As Qc] and won ($13.75) with two pair, Eights and Fours
Seat 4: ic (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: Sn (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: 0R (big blind) folded on the Turn
Seat 7: nb didn't bet (folded)
Seat 8: ds7 folded on the Turn
Seat 9: joe mucked [Qh Kh] - two pair, Eights and Fours

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That hand put me at +0.25bb for my short session, 3 hands later I was dealt JJ

Joe had 7c9h in bb, I raised folded around to joe. Board: [2d 9d 6c 6h Qh] I bet every street, joe called. He has to call me down :-p I won a pot of $7.25

some choice words by Joe followed

joe: mutha fer
joe: im gonna eat ur young

I reply "THANK YOU JOE"

The next hand I was dealt AJo, I raised UTG+1, 1 caller, *** FLOP *** [8h Qc 6d], I bet and win pot ($3.25)

That was the end of my session. I ended +6bb

my bankroll now sits at $106.15

An additional note:

I ordered Super System II and received it tonight. I look foward to reading some of the passages in it, especially the section by Jennifer Harmon on Limit Holdem.

So 2005 is coming to an end.

The New Year doesn't really change anything except in our perceptions, once every 365 days we get a reset button and whatever dreams and aspirations we didn't achieve the year before we have another chance at, at least for the most part.

In early 2005 I started playing poker more than ever. Unfortunately I will have to be honest and say it was not a winning year. I have learned a lot of lessons while battling the losses. I have also educated myself in the game while away from the table.

I started playing online poker this year. Initially I played way beyond my bankroll, and busted out frequently. I had huge winning sessions and thought I owned the table. I moved up in limits and got owned.

I've expanded my play by playing Omaha, Omaha 8b, Stud, Stud 8/b, Razz, Triple draw, Limit, Pot Limit, No-Limit, STT, MTT, full cash games, and short-handed play. I've read numerous books and articles on poker strategy, joined forums and coaching sites. I've made friends with other players and participate in poker related discussions frequently. I've absorbed anything poker related that I can. I've also purchased poker tools to analyze my play and my opponents play, helping me to plug leaks in my game and exploit my opponents. I’ve joined rakeback programs and learned the values of bonuses.

Overall I have grown as a player and truly love the game we call poker. I love the strategy, the social aspects, learning from your mistakes, trying to draw conclusions based on incomplete information, and the thrill of making the correct decision.

Rather than abandon my poker aspirations and chalk up my losses to a hobby gone bad, I am going to face adversity, buckle down and pull myself into the black. This is an attainable goal but not my only goal. So without further ado…

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In 2006 my poker related goals are:

Goal #1
To recoup my 2005 losses, I will assign these losses a value of $4.5k. This is actually more than my actual losses but I am including all poker related expenses including books, beer and gas for home games, chips, magazines, software, and site subscriptions. I will take out at least this $4.5k and spend it on my family either by taking a vacation or providing some other luxury for us to enjoy. I will set forth my withdrawal plan in the next week or two.

Goal #2
Have a bankroll of $25k by December 31st 2006. In addition to being a winning player and repaying myself for my earlier losses I am going to set forth and maintain a plan to build a bankroll of $25k. I choose this target because I feel it is attainable. I will review my progress on a quarterly basis and make adjustments accordingly. Part of this goal will include setting up bankroll guidelines for moving up or down in limits, and game selection. I will set out my short term goals required to achieve this within the next week or two.

Goal #3
Play in a major poker tournament. I am going to attempt to satellite my way into a major tournament with a $10k buy in. At the very minimum I will direct buy in to a tournament using my poker bankroll. If I do a direct buy in I will the even will be at least a $1.5k buy in either such a WPT or WSOP circuit event or equivalent.

Goal#4
Participate in the Bluff Poker Tour. I learned about the BPT about half way through Season 1. I didn’t have the bankroll to play and figured my chances of finishing with the win were low since it was already more than halfway thru the season. For Season 2 they have reduced the buy in and expanded the prizes. I am looking forward to giving it my best shot. I think it is a tremendous opportunity to make it to a major event, and fulfill Goal #3. There are 26 events with $10+ $1 buy-in. I am going to setup and maintain a separate bankroll allotment to participate in these tournaments. Beginning with the first event I am going to reserve the next 4 buy -ins from my bankroll. When I finish in the $ above the remaining buyins ($286) for the season all proceeds will go to my main poker bankroll.

Goal#5
Maintain my blog. Beginning today I am going to make at least a small post outlining the results of any sessions I play. I am going to be diligent about completing these entries following my session, and will complete them no later than the next day.

I am also going to customize my blog and update the links, images and content. I would like to incorporate RSS feeds from some of the popular poker blogs, websites, and poker related news stories.

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So now that I have outlined my goals I will note where my current position is.

Until Christmas Eve I had a bankroll of ~$1k. I had been playing $2/$4 6max Limit Hold’em with the occasional $3/$6 session. I had the tables open Christmas Eve and noticed a very juicy $5/$10 6 max game with LAG's +70% VP$P. Although I was above my bankroll comfort level I couldn’t resist and sat in on it. I was doing fairly well and won some good pots. Unfortunately I started tp suffered some bad beats QQ flopped a set got rivered by a flush. I had AA, KK beat by 2 pair. I was rivered by gut shot straights. By the time I realized I had better let the game go I was down to ~$180. I stepped down and lost the rest at $2/4. It was agonizing after it was over I left myself with ~$8. I polished that off the next few days playing STT, & MTT's. The small winds I had just couldn’t cover my losses. Eventually I was back down to ~$5...

I reloaded $50 last night and played $.5/$1 limit (full). I know I am playing over my bankroll again, but have always done well at the micro limits just being a nut peddler. Its a tough grind but its where I will be for at least the next couple weeks.

I played ~140 hands and quit at $100. As it stands now my bankroll is exactly $100.15. I have $80 in rakeback coming between January 5th & 15th depending on when the payments are processed. I also have ~$500 in deposit bonuses left to clear between 2 sites. Unfortunately as far as the deposit bonuses go, the clear really slow at the micro levels, and until I am back playing $2/$4 they will be slow coming.

I learned a very valuable lesson about playing over your bankroll on Christmas Eve. I will not pay the price again. I am going to be very conservative, before stepping up to the $1/$2 Limit I will have at least 350 bb.

It is going to take allot of will power, but I am going to hold out and meet my goals for the year.