[Closed] Mikel's way

Nice one.
You seem to be well organized which is normally an indication that you have the required discipline to play sss well.

One thing you may want to avoid is having hand amount and money orientated goals.

More often than you might at first think, things can pop up that lead to you missing a few hours/days/weeks of poker time. This personally has happened to me before which lead to me overplaying to catch up to my hand goal, to reach a desired bonus that I wanted. This actually resulted in bad play and I lost more than I won in my bonus.

Variance is also alot bigger than most players new to poker think, you can have more than month long downswings at times.

Just aiming to play your best poker would be my advice (having hand posting goals and article reading goals are far more benificial).

Dont forget to post graphs, stats and any interesting hands you have. We do like graphs and stats around here.

Well its only my second post and already I'm starting to slack! As I stated before I truly intend on updating this blog on a more regular basis - but sometimes things do pop up. For example this week I was really swamped at work and hardly had time to play poker nevermind updating my blog! But really this is no excuse and I will try to remain focused on my objectives.

Weekly update:

This past week has been really mixed and although I feel as though I am improving, I still make some questionable decisions which cost me. The reason I say "mixed" is due to the week's sessions being very swingy. See for yourselves:

Hands $ BB BB/100

Monday 10 Nov 644 $-3.54 -35.40 -5.50

Tuesday 11 Nov 422 $4.70 47.00 11.14

Wednesday 12 Nov 391 $-5.73 -57.30 -14.65

Thursday 13 Nov 720 $1.15 11.50 1.60

Friday 14 Nov - - - -

Saturday 15 Nov 161 $1.16 11.60 7.20

Sunday 16 Nov 1072 $7.20 72.00 6.72

Summary: 3410 $4.94 49.40 1.45

Monday - Wednesday: It was crazy - I would go from insane bad beats to winning massive multi-way pots with the nuts. A bit swingy for my liking but not really due to playing bad poker, just variance I guess, insane variance.

The rest of the week was fine - I played very solidly and hit a very nice purple patch on Sunday.

I plan on doing I more thorough analysis tomorrow to determine my actual performance regarding decisions made. I feel it is a truer reflection of performance than merely calculating profit/loss figures. I can also determine my leaks.

That said it was a rather positive week and although I didn't reach my quota of 4000 hands (due to not playing much on the weekend), I am satisfied (for now).

Review of goals:

• Post 5-10 hands - not achieved. Posted about 4 hands and will post more tomorrow
• Re-read silver articles - achieved
• Analyze hands - not yet achieved. Will do tomorrow

 All in all probably not so good but considering it was my first week of "focused" poker - it's not so bad.♦ Onward we go! @ jmackenzie: Thanks for showing interest and for your positive remarks! Regarding the goals: I completely agree with you concerning the money targets (it tends to create unrealistic expectations), but the hands target is more of a "soft-goal". A target I use to make sure I make time to play poker regularly. For if I don't make time, I probably won't play very much. Cheers and I will look into posting some graphs.

Wow, apparently I'm finding great difficulty in updating this blog! Well slowly (well snail pace) but surely this blog is getting started - now if I could only stay committed!

About two weeks have passed since my last update. In that time things have progressed and I feel as though I'm slowly reaching consistency in NL10. Yes there are still a few mistakes here and there, but I'm becoming far more disciplined than I was a month back.

I will begin by first overviewing the previous two weeks

Week 10-16 Nov

Hands played: 3410 Overall $: 4.94 BB/100: 1.45

Analysis:

I mostly played very consistently and achieved consitent results; excepting two bad sessions (one of which was very painful). The very few mistakes I did make, prevented me from making an even bigger profit. Though it must be said the session on Wednesday 12 Nov, consisted of many bad beats.

Bad plays

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (10 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q♣, K♥
5 folds, MP3 raises to $0.20, Hero raises to $0.50, 3 folds, MP3 calls $0.30.

Flop: ($1.15) 4♣, 3♠, 9♣ (2 players)
MP3 bets $1.10, Hero raises to $1.35 (All-In), MP3 calls $0.25.

Turn: ($3.85) J♣
River: ($3.85) J♦ (2 players)

Final Pot: $3.85

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows a pair of jacks (Qc Kh)
MP3 shows two pairs, jacks and eights (8s 8d)

MP3 wins with two pairs, jacks and eights (8s 8d)

This was probably my worst played hand of the week and frankly no comments need to be made!

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (9 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is SB with 9♠, Q♠
3 folds, MP2 calls $0.10, MP3 folds, CO calls $0.10, BU folds, Hero calls $0.05, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.40) 9♣, 8♥, 9♥ (4 players)
Hero bets $0.50, BB raises to $1.00, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.79 (All-In), BB calls $0.79.

Turn: ($3.98) T♥
River: ($3.98) 7♥ (2 players)

Final Pot: $3.98

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows three of a kind, nines (9s Qs)
BB shows a straight, ten high (6c 8c)

BB wins with a straight, ten high (6c 8c)

This is the perfect example of a great catch gone incredibly wrong via a bad play! Voice of eternal wisdom: "never slowplay monsters!"

Cool SSS moments:

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (10 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is UTG with J♥, J♠
Hero raises to $0.40, UTG1 raises to $0.70, 8 folds, Hero raises to $1.00, UTG1 calls $0.30.

Flop: ($2.15) T♣, Q♣, 5♥ (2 players)
Hero raises $1.00 (All-In), UTG1 calls $1.00.

Turn: ($4.15) A♥
River: ($4.15) T♦ (2 players)

Final Pot: $4.15

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows two pairs, jacks and tens (Jh Js)
UTG1 shows a pair of tens (3d Kh)

Hero wins with two pairs, jacks and tens (Jh Js)

Two-outer pot-odds call?

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (10 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is MP3 with Q♠, Q♥
UTG folds, UTG1 calls $0.10, 2 folds, MP2 calls $0.10, Hero raises to $0.60, CO calls $0.60, BU folds, SB raises to $1.88 (All-In), BB folds, UTG1 calls $1.78, MP2 folds, Hero raises to $2.30 (All-In), CO calls $1.70, UTG1 calls $0.42.

Flop: ($8.98) 6♥, 4♦, Q♦ (2 players)
UTG1 checks, CO bets $1.00, UTG1 calls $1.00.

Turn: ($10.98) 5♥ (2 players)
UTG1 checks, CO bets $2.80, UTG1 raises to $2.73 (All-In).

River: ($16.51) 8♥ (4 players)

Final Pot: $16.51

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows three of a kind, queens (Qs Qh)
SB shows high card ace with king kicker (Ad Kc)
CO shows a pair of threes (3c 3s)
UTG1 shows a pair of sixes (Ks 6c)

Hero wins with three of a kind, queens (Qs Qh)

I sure love the calls by CO and UTG1!

Bad beats:

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (9 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is SB with K♠, K♦
4 folds, MP3 raises to $0.30, 2 folds, Hero raises to $1.90 (All-In), BB folds, MP3 calls $1.60.

Flop: ($3.90) Q♦, 5♣, 4♦
Turn: ($3.90) 2♦
River: ($3.90) A♣ (2 players)

Final Pot: $3.90

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows a pair of kings (Ks Kd)
MP3 shows a straight, five high (As 3s)

MP3 wins with a straight, five high (As 3s)

Maniacs I spit on you!

Summary:

Overall I think I played quite well and didn't make many mistakes. The mistakes I did make were outrageous and I think at the time I knew very well that I was being an idiot. Therefore I couldn't identify too many leaks in this week's analysis.

Possible leaks: stealing too many hands, Conti-betting a tad too much.

Positives: played with good discipline

Rating: 8/10

I will follow with the next week's analysis...

Week 17 - 23 Nov

Hands played: 2230 Overall $: 4.79 BB/100: 2.15

Analysis:

This week also went particularly well. I started the week with two back-to-back bad sessions. Whilst feeling frustrated I pushed on and hit a mini purple patch, three consecqutive profit sessions. This is probably one of the keys in poker: Stop playing when it's going rough, but also quickly start anew with a positively reinforced frame of mind!
My only real criticism of this week lies in the amount of hands played. I really feel that I should at least be playing 3000-3500 hands, optimally 4000+ hands.

Bad plays:

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (7 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is BB with 8♥, J♣
3 folds, CO calls $0.10, 2 folds, Hero checks.

Flop: ($0.25) 9♣, J♠, J♦ (2 players)
Hero checks, CO checks.

Turn: ($0.25) 7♠ (2 players)
Hero bets $0.20, CO raises to $0.40, Hero raises to $1.00, CO raises to $1.60, Hero raises to $1.85 (All-In), CO calls $0.25.

River: ($3.95) 6♦ (2 players)

Final Pot: $3.95

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows three of a kind, jacks (8h Jc)
CO shows a straight, jack high (8d Td)

CO wins with a straight, jack high (8d Td)

Again with the slow-playing. Damnit!!

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (10 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with A♦, K♥
2 folds, UTG2 calls $0.10, Hero raises to $0.50, 3 folds, BU calls $0.50, 2 folds, UTG2 calls $0.40.

Flop: ($1.65) 6♠, T♣, 8♦ (3 players)
UTG2 checks, Hero checks, BU bets $0.78, UTG2 folds, Hero raises to $1.25 (All-In), BU calls $0.47.

Turn: ($4.15) 9♥
River: ($4.15) 6♦ (2 players)

Final Pot: $4.15

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows a pair of sixes (Ad Kh)
BU shows two pairs, nines and eights (8h 9s)

BU wins with two pairs, nines and eights (8h 9s)

Here I really should have c-bet and then check/fold. This is a typical play by the big-stacks on NL10 - they'll call with trash and then call a c-bet on the flop with top-pair (no kicker) or even second pair. But still it pays to c-bet in this type of situation.

The next hand illustrate their playing style:

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (10 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is BB with A♣, K♦
3 folds, MP1 calls $0.10, 2 folds, CO calls $0.10, BU calls $0.10, SB calls $0.05, Hero raises to $0.80, MP1 folds, CO calls $0.70, 2 folds.

Flop: ($1.90) 8♣, 9♦, 2♣ (2 players)
Hero raises $1.00 (All-In), CO calls $1.00.

Turn: ($3.90) 8♦
River: ($3.90) 7♣ (2 players)

Final Pot: $3.90

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows a pair of eights (Ac Kd)
CO shows two pairs, nines and eights (9h Kc)

CO wins with two pairs, nines and eights (9h Kc)

Cool SSS moments:

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (9 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is CO with K♠, K♣
UTG1 folds, UTG2 raises to $0.80, 3 folds, Hero raises to $1.70 (All-In), 3 folds, UTG2 calls $0.90.

Flop: ($3.55) 4♦, 7♥, J♥
Turn: ($3.55) Q♥
River: ($3.55) 2♣ (2 players)

Final Pot: $3.55

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows a pair of kings (Ks Kc)
UTG2 shows a pair of threes (3h 3s)

Hero wins with a pair of kings (Ks Kc)

Hehe!! ♦

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (8 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q♦, Q♣
4 folds, Hero raises to $0.40, BU calls $0.40, SB folds, BB calls $0.30.

Flop: ($1.25) 7♣, J♣, 7♦ (3 players)
BB checks, Hero raises $1.40 (All-In), BU calls $1.40, BB folds.

Turn: ($4.05) T♦
River: ($4.05) 4♠ (2 players)

Final Pot: $4.05

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows two pairs, queens and sevens (Qd Qc)
BU shows two pairs, tens and sevens (9h Ts)

Hero wins with two pairs, queens and sevens (Qd Qc)

Awesome air dude!!

Bad beats:

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (8 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is CO with 8♥, 8♣
UTG2 calls $0.10, 2 folds, MP3 calls $0.10, Hero raises to $0.60, 4 folds, MP3 raises to $1.10, Hero raises to $1.55 (All-In), MP3 calls $0.45.

Flop: ($3.35) 3♣, 9♦, 4♠
Turn: ($3.35) 6♠
River: ($3.35) Q♣ (2 players)

Final Pot: $3.35

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows a pair of eights (8h 8c)
MP3 shows a pair of nines (9c Kc)

MP3 wins with a pair of nines (9c Kc)

Wouldn't really have bothered me if I lost this hand, but considering what I lost to...

Very lucky escape:

0.05/0.1 No-Limit Hold'em (10 handed)
Hand recorder used for this poker hand: PokerStrategy Elephant 0.62 by www.pokerstrategy.com.

Preflop: Hero is CO with Q♦, K♦
UTG calls $0.10, 3 folds, MP2 raises to $0.20, MP3 folds, Hero raises to $0.60, 4 folds, MP2 raises to $1.00, Hero raises to $2.00 (All-In), MP2 calls $1.00.

Flop: ($4.25) 2♥, 8♦, T♥
Turn: ($4.25) K♣
River: ($4.25) Q♥ (2 players)

Final Pot: $4.25

Results follow (highlight to see):
Hero shows two pairs, kings and queens (Qd Kd)
MP2 shows a pair of aces (Ac Ah)

Hero wins with two pairs, kings and queens (Qd Kd)

Yeah well sometimes the poker gods look past your indiscretions and reward you!! I imagine the victim will be posting this hand under his "bad beat" section.

Summary

The week was quite a rollcoaster: diving down and then climbing back up quite nicely. Mostly this was just due to variance and not really due to bad play. Again a few mistakes which I'll look into, but nothing major I feel.

Possible leaks: The one or two hands where I know better but choose the wrong play.

Positives: Consitency. Adjusting negative outlook and recovering losses

Rating: 7/10

I think this "double post" should make up a bit for my recent lack of posting. My next post will be on Wednesday - I will be posting some of the hands played this week so far.

Cheers guys, good luck and great riches to all (except if you happen to play NL10 on party, hehe!)

Well I was planning on posting yesterday ( Wednesday) but then the unforeseen happened - my onboard lan decided it would a good time to bomb. The network is just plain simply gone, as if it never had existed! The motherboard is under warranty so that isn't really a problem, it's just now I probably won't have my pc for the next few days. I am quite astonished, I haven't ever heard of a similar case before, where the onboard lan just died - I mean everthing else on the mobo is fine!

Due to this I haven't been able to play much poker obviously. I'm typing this on a work pc which doesn't allow me to install anything. I really hope to get this sorted quickly, so that I can continue my poker journey.

The one session I did manage to play (Monday when my lan was still working), was a complete disaster! I ended something like $7 in the red over about 600 or so hands. I don't have the stats with me - formatted my pc and haven't reinstalled everything. There weren't really so many bad beats, it was a case of being card dead. I had minimal playable hands and everytime I did have something, either there would be too much action or I wouldn't hit the flop. I feel I played quite good and didn't make any mistakes that I can think of. I will be analyzing it thoroughly once I get everything up and running again.

Computers - ingenious invention, but don't you just sometimes hate them?!