[Closed] My career, start 2008

Nice post! I hope you'll achieve all your goals in 2008.

Keep your blog updated!

Happy New Year!
-thunderbird56-

Reading... reading... reading... that has been the thing on my mind this week. I've been going through the articles, so far I've done all sng and psychology/didactics articles and most of no limit ones. I've also watched some videos, but I'm not happy with the quality of NL videos what I've seen here. Some time next week I'll propably write somekind of feedback and suggestions.

I've been playing only freerolls this weekend. Friday in the Mansion afternoon freeroll I finished itm and got 10$. Today in Titan New Depositors freeroll I finished also itm and got 5.40$. Tomorrow this line will hopefully continue in PS silver freeroll

Yes, I made a deposit to Titan, even though I'm getting taf transfers there. In order to make a withdrawal I had to make a deposit with that selected method first by their rules, so I deposited 20€ few days ago using Moneybookers. I received two tournament tokens, one for this weekly 1.2k freeroll and another one for a dream vacation freeroll, next one held on monday. I didn't notice before that the registration for this saturday freeroll was open from last sunday, and it was already full. I had that "hide full" option checked in the lobby so couldn't find that tournament. Chatted with their online support and the problem was solved I kept that tournament lobby open for a while and there was people unregistering from time to time so I managed to get in. One half of an hour went stealing blinds 50/50 with another player since all others in that table were sitting out (we both builded over 10k stacks before new players came in).

Next weeks "to do":

- still more reading, I still have much more to learn.
- sng session, most likely 5+1$ Maui jackpots at Titan
-> two goals: - practice position play
- to make some profit so that sharkscope shows +
(it's currently -40$)
- strictly controlled NL10 SSS -session at Mansion
-> two goals: - build up my bankroll there (any profit is good profit)
- see and write down how many MCPs and strategy points that session produces

I'll post some report of that session here for all to see. So many have been wondering how much they have to play in order to keep that 50$ and to receive additional 100$. I try to give somekind of an estimation about that, some average hours per day or something. Because of the relatively short nature of my session any financial results go well within variance so that should be left to minor significance.

This from here now, quite long post compared to most here, but...

Happy new year and good luck in tables!

-- Z --

-- Poker is like sex, you need a good pair or you'll have to be satisfied with the hand you get.--

- sng session, most likely 5+1$ Maui jackpots at Titan

Don't play maui tables. They are only +ev to play with an unnatural high ROI! I calculated, but it was quite a while ago. Your ROI needs to be around 30 to make playing there profitable.

Good luck on your goals.

So... I was a bit busy with my real life last week so didn't have time to play that much I had planned. No problem though, I can live with that. I had enough time to read and watch some videos anyway so learning process is proceeding allright.

I played some sng tourneys at PokerStars and what I learned of position play was that:
- I have a seat in this table, so I have a position. There is no such thing as "in" or "out of" position
- I just got two new hole cards, wow... at least one of them is a face card or an ace, so let's go, chips in and pray!

That's what I learned in less than 5d sng's. I suppose the game is a bit more like skill poker instead of luckboxing when the buy-in gets higher. Well, I'm still profiting player at Pstars so no worries. Just have to work hard, stay focused and work my way up to a bit higher level following helemaalnicks. Too bad that I can't get strategy points from Pstars since I have had that account before I even heard about PokerStrategy.

This week I look forward having time to play cash games sessions at Titan so that I make enough strategypoints for gold level.

That's all for now, good luck at the tables for all!

-- Z --

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An apple in a day keeps doctor away...

... a won MTT in a day keeps going broke away.
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Hi zamwise!

Nice read. I'm looking forward to your feedback concerning the videos. And I hope that you reach your goals. But keep in mind: real life is always more important than online poker

Good luck at the tables!
Puschkin81

@maui tables, you need to win on average 1/3.4 of them to make it +EV, or something like that. that's not considering the consolation prize.

it's SLIGHTLY hard because of the blind structure (where you only start with 1000 chips), but if you play your A game, you can win imo.

Here we go again

I have stayed away of those Maui tables. Even though I counted that comparing to regular $5+0,5 sngs all you need to achieve is manage to finish once in 399 tourneys 5 times in a row in top 2. Then you'd get $200 side jackpot which covers the additional part of rake in 400 tourneys. I have once made it 3 times in a row in top 2, two times 1st and the 3rd one was 2nd place. But that streak ended there...

I played two tournaments today, one 10+1 sng (1T, finished 3rd) and $5,5 MTT (finished ~450, top 150 paid). In that sng happened following while there was 3 players remaining: I was shortstacked BB, 3-way pot and I got freeplay with J5. Flop QJ2 rainbow, SB checks, I push all-in 1k... next player to act asks the third one in the chat that will he call, third one said yes and the second one folded after that. Well the chipleader showed TT and my jacks held, but... I noted to them that it's not allowed to say such things while hand is not completed. I won that hand, but anyway I sent that information to Titan support and got a reply that both those players are banned now. Please keep in mind that be nice at the tables, don't go around breaking the rules...

I played about 1k hands NL200 SH (some 100 hands FR). A bit swingy, I were steadily up, but couple of bad beats and fell a bit down, aces and kings got cracked by flush and straight. In the end I'm about $40 on negative, but I'll let it be now. Style selection based a bit on the nature of the table I played either full or short stack. Once I did a hit-and-run with a short stack entry, buy-in $40, freeplay with K5 and flop KQQ, I called a small bet, turn blanko, check-check, river K... I spent the time I had and made a bet looking kind of weak (hopefully... since I was a shortstack there wasn't much scaring power in my stack left). I got a call and doubled, so just sit-out and leave then. Sorry guys, I was there only for the money

I'm not sure, but I think I made enough strategy points to reach gold level... we'll see that in couple of days. Lots of new articles to read then, silver level is already done. Anxiously waiting to see those gold level videos too

That's pretty much what helemaalnicks said how he improved as a player... reading, playing, reading, playing... there is not an easy way.

Remember to take a break once in a while. It helps to avoid bad beats

-- Z --

PS: in those Maui tables there is always one or few über-tight players who are trying that jackpot. It makes playing a bit easier, I think... less luckboxing around. (this was not an advertisement)

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(this space is for rent of you want to put your ad here)
(I'll try to put a joke here again next time if no-one buys this spot)
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do you have the bankroll to play nl200? anyway, good to hear you're doing good. I really, REALLY like the fact that you reported the players, since i think this kind of behaviour is terrible for the entire pokerworld! Well done there.

Plz stick to brm, and grind through the limits!

Gl.

Yes, I have about 17 times full stack for NL200 now so I think that is enough. It stands few occasional sngs too, especially like today I made +24 dollars that way (still few bucks negative on sharkscope, but I'll work it up someday ). I havn't been playing that much tourneys at Titan, prefer cash games there. Tournaments I prefer at Mansion and PokerStars.

I have no hurry to move up to NL400. For that I'd prefer to have something like 30-40 full stacks. If everything goes fine that'll happen later this year, we'll see.

Cash games are going ok. Like I said my goal is to have a steady winrate, any positive winrate is ok at this point. Now I'm back up, 1,3k hands total with avg winrate 0,39BB/100h (after yesterday it was -0,84). I started this count yesterday since I have played this year only yesterday and today. New year, new start. With minor improvements in my game I hope to reach avg winrate 2 at around 3k hands. In short terms that means I'd have to be able to play something like +4BB/100h next 2k hands. That shouldn't be too hard to reach.

That's all, folks... be careful out there
(watch out for evil sharks among little fish)

-- Z --

I have an account at one Ongame-skin which has quite nice history. I opened it and received EUR10 free to start. It had to be used in casino games so I went to try blackjack. Doubled it twice to EUR40 and then it was allowed to transfer the money to poker account. It was exactly 54 dollars then and one sunny saturday (in september) I registered to China Daily (buy-in $50+4)... I finished first and that was my biggest win then, $1573, ROI for that account being 2813%. I had no reason to keep on playing there so I transfered that money away and left $0 bankroll there.

Well, I thought to try something with that account. Participated in a freeroll and second try yesterday evening brought me the prize of $3. Took $2 of it to NL10 table. Firstly posted blind I had to fold, hit nothing. BB I also folded away. While in SB I completed with J5s, 3 limpers and BB in a 5-way pot. Small rainbow cards on board and only check after check, but river is a J and I bet $0.20, everyone folds -> $2.20. Next three hands I fold, then I limp in to a 5-way pot with AQo. Flop A86 rainbow, checked to me and I hit all-in $2.10. Big stack on the button calls, all other fold. He shows ATo and gets no help -> $4.65. I leave that table before the blinds and that bankroll is now $5.65.

Should I then try NL10 SSS or $1.20 tournaments? I don't know yet, it's "taking a shot" anyway. I'll write down the progress (if there is any ) here. There is also an option to wait for next freeroll and try get some more dollars to secure bankroll for NL10 SSS.

Earlier yesterday I played three tournaments at Titan. Scheduled MTTs, two 10+1 and one 5+0,5. ITM finishes in all of them, one FT in 10+1. Total profit around $150. Too bad sharkscope counts only sngs from iPoker. I want to get my stats to show profit

That's all for now. Read things and see people... see things and read people.

-- Z --

EDIT: corrected typos

For everyone who read the last post: that's NOT proper bankroll management!

@ zamwise: I hope you stick to the bankroll management with the rest of your bankroll?! Keep us up-to-date!

Good luck at the tables!
Puschkin81

Hi Puschkin81

That's just like a hobby for me I wrote about. I play NL200 and tournaments on other sites with a sufficient bankroll. I don't recommend gambling with your own money to anyone. It's just this one site where I wondered to try something similar to Ferguson challenge (read about it on fulltiltpoker), from rags to riches -> empty bankroll to 10k without a deposit. There is no time or any other limitations for this project so I was just wondering what to do with $5,65 bankroll. The start was kind of luckboxing, but hey, it cost nothing since I started from freeroll. And if I was unlucky instead of being lucky (I think that in those two hands I described I was a bit lucky) there is always a chance to start again.

What would you recommend? Propably the option to wait for another freeroll success, I think...

One problem is that there is no smaller level than NL10 on Ongame network. And like I commented in another thread those low level sngs have also some limitations that make them to look not so good option for me.

Thanks for your answer,

-- Z --

PS: if you refer to my actions with the starting of that account I wrote about, the EUR10 free money... that was not proper bankroll management, yes. That was not bad bankroll management either. That was not managed bankroll at all

Hi zamwise!

I would just take the money and add it to my real bankroll ♦

Good luck at the tables!
Puschkin81

I'm not listening to you, Puschkin81

I chose to try NL10 with this kind of BRM: buy-in 1$ and out with any profit, no reload.

Here are listed entries to tables and how they went:
Cash-out from the table first mentioned.

$1,25, first hand KTo, hit top pair on turn and no calls for a small bet
$0, BB AQs, flop Q22, I push and get called by Q4, river 4
$0, TT in CO, limp in, flop 773, all checked, I push and UTG calls with A7
$0, first hand KJo, hit K but MP2 had AK
$6,55, played BB (made a straight), SB (two pairs) and BU (TPTK)
$1,80, utg raised, I push with AJs and beat QQ with an ace in the flop
$2,65, almost tripled with QQ, ace in the flop but neither one of callers had it
$1,80, BB hit middle pair, no calls for a small bet, CO KK, no calls after 9-high flop
$3, BB and 88, made a full house, board AT8QT, callers had QJ and 66
$0, middle two pairs got beaten by top two pairs
$2,5, KJo turned to a full house, JJ272 board, 4-way pot
$1,35, TP with KQ on turn, straight draw called my push and missed
$0, OESD on the flop, called opponents bet and missed
$0, just simply card dead...
$0, and again...
$2,8, A9 vs A8 after A73 flop
$1,2, stolen blinds only
$2,45, first hand, AQo and made a straight, called by K8 (two pairs)

The order of those entries is not quite exact since I multitabled 2-3 tables at a time.

So my hobby bankroll is up to $15 now. I think I'll take yet another step this way before changing to $2 buy-in. Or any better ideas available by anyone?

-- Z --

EDIT: had a typo and after post noticed that my status is gold, great ♦

I've spent many hours today for reading gold articles. After that I thought to take couple shots with my hobby bankroll like yesterday. Same idea, NL10 and entry with $1. What can I say, people just make so great calls that I missed showdown value only once in about 100 hands. Last hand was a good example of this:

I was BU with 99, stack 0,80. Limped in like 5 others. Flop KT9 rainbow. Only checks to me and I push since the pot was already 0,65. BB and UTG call. Turn 2 (check-check) and river 9. They both check and at showdown BB shows AK (I understand why he called) and UTG shows A6 (what kind of hand he thought to beat even without a flush draw?). Total pot 2,75 to me and todays profit $8,30 in like half an hour.

Hobby bankroll is now up to $23,30, started from 0 with freeroll on saturday.

SSS has been proved (many times I think) to be very effective way to build up your bankroll. And like my little experiment here shows you can start even from few dollars, with a little help of lady luck in form of an upswing though. I could work up to 10k that way, but that's work, not fun as a hobby should be.

So I plan to continue this way: 10 times $1,20 King Of The Hill feeder 1. That makes 12 dollars and if I get nothing out from that hill climbing I still have some to try something else. It's a lot easier to build up your bankroll when you have some dollars left instead of being totally broke...

I have once played that KOTH system through. 3 attempts to start and then I got a ticket to continue. Finished finally second and won $650 (steps 2 and 3 had already given me $25+$80 with the tickets).

For those of you who don't know what KOTH is a little explanation:
It is a set of sit-and-go tournaments, feeders are the ones you can buy in to. From feeders you get tickets to steps, from steps to upper steps and from step 3 the top 2 finishers get the ticket to final. Every tournament is played as sng, being that they'll start when enough participants have registered. You can find that sng-set from Mansion -> Tournaments -> sng -> specials. The final pays out $2500 for the winner, $650 and $350 for the second and third.

We'll see what that brings... 4 times KOTH and that's 10k
(a short cut from rags to riches)

Have a nice day and night, good luck at the tables!

-- Z --

Hi zamwise!

Although you are not listening to me : Nice plans! I hope you are doing well.

Good luck at the tables!
Puschkin81

Oh, it's been two weeks since I last time wrote to this thread...

I've been a bit busy with my real life so there has been nothing to tell about poker. From the beginning of this month I nevertheless took some goals again. Birthday competition!

Last thursday I broke my previous records for one day cash games. Multitabling NL200 I made 995 strategy points and total of almost 1k eur profit! ♦ And got a headache...

After two days little less playing and more time out (in the snow) I'm going to go for it again. Pretty likely I'll reach platinum status by tuesday and the goal for this month is around 20k points. That should be enough to finish in good position in that birthday contest (on my home ground, not the english one) and it might even be enough to make it to the top100.

And... since I will be travelling a bit next month or two I try to make that much profit this month that there is no need to worry. So far everything has gone well.

Good luck at the tables for all!