So, I thought I would make a blog to help deal with my losing sessions and bring me down to Earth after my winning sessions. Basically, as with most blogs, this is starting due to an extreme run, basically this afternoon, even though I am on micro limits, I lost 4 buy ins within 5 minutes. 2 of them were all ins from me preflop with QQ, I came up against AA and an A( which hit the A. The others were progressive losings and one of them was tilt on my part.
My Poker Story So Far
So, what's my story so far. I started playing poker a year or so ago after joining a poker society at my University, wher eyou just play for play money and win prizes based on your league position at the end of the year. I was just playing for fun and going with a friend every Monday, it was more of a social activity for me, having just started University and everything. Nearer the end of the year me and my flatmates began having a few games a week for £1 or so buyin, and then I played a bit when I came back from University. And then, whilst searching for ways to make a bit of extra cash over the summer I came across this little, beautiful site :).
So, I read the articles, I passed the quiz, I started playing on PartyPoker, I read the Bronze articles once apiece and continued playing. I couldn't quite figure out what my best game was, I tried Cash tables and SnGs. I was following the BRM rules that were outlined, but after a few horrible bad beats tilt led me to refuse to move down a limit. This meant I ended up down to $1.50 on my PartyPoker account, trying to grind NL2, I was doing alright, in an hour or so I built it up to $5. In the end I just put myself out of my misery and played a $5 SnG to either put me bust or set me on my way again. I came 4th out of 10, I went bust.
A few days passed and I was feeling the urge again, my TaF bonus was only $5 off being withdrawable (And still is, might I add, why won't my friends play! I just need $5 :() Anyway, my TAF bonus wasn't going anywhere so I deposited $50 into PartyPoker again this morning to try and utilise the Cash Machine promotion. I played a SnG first to get me going, came 2nd after losing out on my TT preflop to AQs. I proceeded to open a few NL4 games and play BSS, half an hour later i'd lost 3 BI on one table, with 2 of them being one after the other, those QQ I was telling you about. Ouch.
It was then, well after i'd played a $1 MTT (Came 21st out of 99, didn't rebuy though :)) that I decided I needed to do something. I analysed my game, decided I would study more before I play and open a blog. So here I am.
My Downfalls
Now, I may only be a beginner to Poker but I believe the first step to becoming a better player is to recognise your faults. So here they are, exposed for the World to see ♦
- I play SnGs way too cautiously, especially on PartyPoker where you just end up getting blinded out.
- In Cash games, I find it hard to lay good hands down, for instance, if I have KQs and the Flop comes as KJA or something, I always MAKE myself think that even though my opponent raised he only has a J, even though consciously I KNOW he has that A. I just refuse to let it go.
- AK, that hand is something I can never let go, and i've lost so much money with it.
- I need to learn how to play low pocket pairs, from 22 - 88.
So there they are, my gameplay faults, any help with any of those, or if you notice any more faults with my play, don't hesitate to mention.
My Aims
Short Term
- Study all the Bronze articles again, and cloesly.
- Play BSS on micro limits profitably.
- Learn to better my faults mentioned above.
- Don't Go Bust!
Mid Term
- Get to Silver Status on PokerStrategy
- Clear my $50 bonus on PartyPoker
- Cashout on the Cash Machine Promotion on Party Poker
- Win an MTT Online
Long Term
- Gold+ Status is an obvious one ![]()
- Continue upwards through the NL Cash Games
- Earn a bit of extra money for University
- Win an MTT at the Casino
I will post up my graph shortly, currently I stand at 0.08BB/100h but because of my tilting and switching limits, $21.59 in the red on cash games.
