Hi All
Just played a late session of 4 x $2 sng's again. Got knocked out of two and placed in the other two.
The two I got knocked out of, I was all-in both times with the best hand, and got sucked out on. 2nd and a 3rd in the other two.
Final result? I end up with exactly the same money I started with !!
Highest BR = $187.41
Current BR = $137.55
All the best
Bryan
Hi All
Back to winning ways again after a couple of days off through lack of time.
Played 4 x $2 sng's and despite bubbling 2 of them, managed a win and a 3rd to produce a profit overall.
Highest BR = $187.41
Current BR = $145.35
FTP = 2610.90
All the best
Bryan
Hi All
I am on a roll now. Played 4 x $2 sng's and won two of them. One of them I fought back from a huge chip deficit.
Session produced a nice little profit overall.
Highest BR = $187.41
Current BR = $154.35
FTP = 2617.90
All the best
Bryan
Hi All
As you can see, I have been demoted to bronze status. Oh the shame of it. How will I ever hold my head up again.
Playing $2 sng's only gets me 0.5 SP's for each one. So when I typically play a session of 4, I only get 2 SP's and it takes over an hour of my time. To get 4 sp's requires up to 2 hours or more of playing poker, and that is what I need to do virtually every day to retain silver status.
In the current recession, the hours I am working in my day job to make it pay, plus other stuff in my life, means that playing poker for over 2 hours a day is not likely to happen.
So I will probably stay bronze for a while, and concentrate on trying to build me BR. If I do that, I will rise through the ranks anyway, when I play for higher stakes.
I will need to avoid sessions like last nights though. After going out drinking with mates, where I drank too much strong beer, I foolishly played a session on my Full Tilt Poker Strategy account. If I ever play after drinking beer, I usually use my other account on Pokerstars. I obviously had false confidence in my abilities last night.
Played 4 x sng's and didn't place in any of them. I would like to tell you that I suffered some terrible bad beats. I may well have done, but I don't remember !!
I suppose being demoted to bronze is no better than I deserve, following such shameful behaviour. lol
I am drawing a line in the sand now. That's it. No more drinking, and from here on the only way for my BR is going to be up.....
Highest BR = $187.41
Current BR = $145.35
FTP = 2624.90
All the best
Bryan
Hi All
Further to my last post earlier today, have just played a session of 4 sng's.
Although I got knocked out of 3 of them, I went on to win the final one. Of the 3 I got knocked out of, the first two were my own fault. I had logical reasoning for making the all-in moves when I made them, but were I playing by the book, they should have been folds.
You become a better player by experimentation, though at these micro stakes level games, ABC poker usually is the best. I made the shoves I did because I had enough reason to believe that the particular opponents at the time were re-raising me to knock me out of the pot, rather than on the strength of their hand, based on previous actions. It turned out of course that I was wrong !! They had what they werer suggesting they had, and had I played by the book I would have folded and stayed in the tourney. However, I have made similar decisions in the past and been right, so that's just poker. In the main though, I had a harsh reminder that ABC is usually the way to go.
As for the other one that I got knocked out of, that was a case of my opponent being a fool who got lucky. As I had raised pre-flop (with AJ) and then shoved all-in on an ace-high flop (a normal conti-bet would have been for most of my stack) should he have called, risking his tournament life with A4 ? I suppose you can when you know you are going to hit your 4, as he obviously did.
ok he had an ace, but I had been playing tight aggressive as we do, so what could he put me on that he would be beating other than a stone cold bluff? I suppose it's fair to say that there are plenty of players at this level who would do just that, as they have seen such bluffs on tv.
Anyway, it worked for him this time, and of course I hope he always calls my all-in shoves with A4......LOL.
Despite my win, the session finished up exactly breaking even, but at least I made rakeback, full tilt points and strategy points.
Highest BR = $187.41
Current BR = $145.35
FTP = 2631.90
All the best
Bryan
Hi All
Played a session last night that, the result of which was so bad, I couldn't bring myself to write about it.
Played 6 x sng's and got knocked out of every one before the money. I played as well as I could, and when I got my money in, I had the best hand almost every time, and lost every one.
What can you do but move on ?
Am about to start tonights session, which is getting late, so will just be 4 x sng's. I will write it up in an hour or so time.
Incidentally, have played a couple of sessions on my other account in between times recently, with crap results there too. So I am not just running bad, I am running bad on more than one site !
BR = $134.10
FTP = 2640.65
All the best
Bryan
Hi All
Played 4 x $2 sng's, placed in 2 of them, and still made a f***ing loss.
BR = $132.30
FTP = 2647.65
All the best
Bryan
Originally posted by MAGICBRYAN
Played a session last night that, the result of which was so bad, I couldn't bring myself to write about it.Played 6 x sng's and got knocked out of every one before the money. I played as well as I could, and when I got my money in, I had the best hand almost every time, and lost every one.
What can you do but move on ?
Hey MB!
If you're worried about a 10 or 20 game downsing, check out Gavinonymous's post in this thread... if you look you'll see Boku87 had a 1500 hand breakeven stretch between game 3500 and 5000, as well as a whole lot of smaller downswings and b/e stretches.
1500 games for no profit at all - excluding rakeback of course.
That's the curse of SnG's - you just need to get your head around variance.. it's a bitch but it's a fact in a game of luck.
Here endeth the latest sermon.. my dog collar arrives later this week.. 
Hi All
Nice to hear from you again Waiboy. I know I moan a bit sometimes, but getting my head around variance takes some doing. I notice you call it a game of luck yourself.
If skill really does pay eventually, what do we mean by eventually, when you talk about playing 1500 games without making a penny ?
And how do I read about kids becoming millionaires from one deposit, before they are even out of short trousers? And if you are at the microstakes level, how much of your life do you have to waste trying to get any kind of a bankroll together ?
I'm going to bed anyway, I might feel different again tomorrow.
The session I just played, I made the money once out of the four, including one where I went all-in with AA on a King high pot, still early on in the game when my opponent had no reason to take unnecessary risk. He called me with K2 and of course the turn was another K.
Anyway, you've heard it all before so...
BR = $126.90
All the best
Bryan
The way kids make money is by sick grinding and taking shots at higher limits.. of course being either unbelievably good or unbelievably lucky.
There is no quick road to riches unless you hit a massive heater and are good enough to improve your skill as you ride the heatwave.
But you're playing for the fun of it right? No, neither am I. 
Hi All
Thanks for your input again Waiboy. I have decided oddly enough, Waiboy, that for a while at least, I will play just for the fun of it.
In other words, I am down to bronze now, and can't go any lower. I am just starting off in a part-time business too, which I will be putting time into. So, I have come to the conclusion, that, as I am getting knowhere fast with my poker BR, I may as well just take the pressure off, and play when I am really in the mood, rather than the daily grind, and enjoy it.
I have recently played 2 or 3 sessions on my other account, at Omaha and Holdem BSS, depending on what mood I was in, and made a profit.
I have recently played 3 sessions of NL BSS on my account here, and amazingly managed to break exactly even on the first two, then last night lost a few dollars.
I cannot really complain about last nights losses, because I didn't play as well as I know I can do, and was really too tired late at night. In one instance, I blew my whole stack making a shove on the river when I knew I was beaten. I should know by now that people rarely fold at this level when they have been taking the lead on earlier streets. They usually have what they say they have. He made it expensive for me to call, so I should have folded, as I didn't have much of a hand anyway. Instead, through tired frustration, I make a stupid all-in shove.
So I am going to play when I feel like it, and try to play the best game I can from now on. If I make a profit well and good, but I don't think I will ever make my fortune playing poker from this level.
Highest BR = $187.41
Current BR = $122.46
FTP = 2673.12
All the best
Bryan
Hi All
Recently I had a session when I came home from the pub, on my other account on Pokerstars, which is not related to Pokerstrategy.
I did everything I shouldn't do. I played after drinking several beers, and I played out of my BR, which was about $80 at the time.
Despite the beers, I tried to play as well as possible, erring on the side of caution, as I played 4 x $5 SNG DON's. The result was perfect, and I doubled up on every table, taking my BR to over $100 !!
The next session I played, on another night, I was sober (as I mostly am by the way!) and I played on my pokerstrategy-related site on Full Tilt. Following on from my previous shot outside my BR, I decided to have a one-off shot at a $10 sng, playing just the one table, and giving it my full attention.
Of course, I got sucked out on, and my BR took another battering, when my all-in shove, during the early/mid stages of the tourney, was called by a guy with 55 (how can you possibly call an all-in shove pre-flop with 55? what are you beating ?) but of course he flopped a set and eliminated me.
So, having got that nonesense out of my system, I will carry on with the microstakes grind, but I probably won't be doing it daily any more, but rather when I feel like it.
BR = $112.55
FTP = 2680.12
All the best
Bryan
Hi Guys
I havent posted for some time, so thought it was time I brought you up to date, in case anyone actually cares. lol.
I have to admit, I haven't played on my full tilt poker strategy account for a week or two.
I have recently played on my other account on Pokerstars, and have got really into the steps program, despite knowing it will probably end with me losing my bankroll.
At any one time, you only have 8 opponents. You typically only have to finish in the top three to have another go, or top two to advance a level.
The higher levels give the opportunity for a shot at real money, if you can get there.
So far, I haven't advanced below level 2 (have done in the past, but not recently) but I can honestly say that has been down to bad luck in most instances.
Almost every level 1, I have played , I have advanced to level 2. Evey level 2 I have played, except for one, that I can remember, I have been all-in with the best hand, and been sucked out on. The only one was when I shoved all-in with A 10 and was called by AJ, which held.
I, therefore fear no-one at these levels, and am looking forward to playing at higher levels. Of course, each attempt loses me $7.50 from < $100 BR meaning I will probably lose my BR before I make big money.
However, I would be happy to re-invest in this way of having a go at the big money. Tonight have been to the pub with mates, and drunk 6 pints of decent beer, come home, and still played a level 1 and won a ticket to level 2. I am not saying I could do this every time, but some of the standard of play at level 1 is so bad it's unbelieveable.
I have not played my poker strategy account on FT as I said earlier, for a bit, but I will do again soon. However, I have given serious thought to the whole poker thing lately, and come to the conclusion that trying to build up from nothing to a big BR, for the average guy, is virtually impossible, so not worth devoting too much time to.
Looking at the folks who have supposedly gone from zero to big bucks, they are either:
Guys like chris ferguson, who are wealthy anyway, so can afford to spend as much time as they wish every day playing microstakes poker as a challenge, or
College kids etc, who, again, have nothing else to do than obsessively grind away.
I don't say this with any malice or jealousy, but merely as fact.
The average guy, with a full time job, like myself, who is lucky if he can fit in an hour a day, is never going to do it.
The answer, I feel , is to either save up the money for big buy-ins, or try to satellite in.
I am on a roll now with writing, and could go on all night, so must end here before I do.
Just as a quick example. Let us say that I play micro stakes, and have a great result, and double or treble my stack in a cash game. I have still not made a lot of money to do anything with.
Let me then say that I have played a medium stake game, and made a small profit. That small profit could still maybe buy me into a couple of satellites, for a chance at big money. The more chances you have the more you can make it.
I believe this is how people advance, more than starting from scratch.
Also, how many people in live games, playing big buy-in tourneys are either business people who can afford to buy-in direct, or people who have got lucky in a satellite ? Most I would say. Ask how many started with nothing and gradually built up enough for the buy-in, and you will be lucky to find anyone.
If this reads like sour graqpes, it is not meant to. I am just being realistic. This is a great site, with lots of great advice that will help members, including myself to advance. However, one must balance the skill and luck factor in poker, and realise that the more chances you have, the more chance you have of making it.
If I have to keep pumping money into accounts to play satellites or higher level games , it is a necessary thing to do, providing I am getting good value, as in the pokerstars steps program or other tourney satellites, or I play cash games at such a level that any profits made along the way are for meaningful sums of money to fund other shots at big money.
Of course all the above relies on good BR management as taught here.
Hope this drunken ramble makes sense to everyone.
So, going into tomorrow, I have just won another attempt at a step 2. Will I get sucked out on again, or will I get to level 3 this time?
All the best
Bryan
Since I am also working full time I agree with the things you said. I just don't have the time to try things like that. Also one things that seems obvious to me is, that even if I would manage to somehow qualify, I don't have the skills to play in a big tournament or even the skills to play on the stakes I could play with my bankroll after a big win.
That's why I prefe to build my bankroll in a more conservative way, by climbing up limits and if one day I'll be good enough than fine otherwise I'll be OK anyway.
Hi All
Thanks for stopping by rahxephon1. You are right of course, and I was sounding off again due to having been sucked out on so many times.
I have just played another level 2 on the steps, which I won last night, and yet again I was sucked out on, as my pocket pair all-in was called by a big Ace. Not content with just hitting one of his overcards, he had to rub it in by flopping the nut straight, and yet again I go back to square one.
If it sounds like I am moaning, it's because I am. lol.
I must get back to the daily grind I think, as all I am going to do with the steps program is gradually make my BR disappear altogether, and I am not playing my poker strategy account.
Will get back to posting my results of the grind.
All the best
Bryan
Hi Bryan,
My sympathies also. I experienced something similar to you recently in that I realise that getting to really decent money is very far off. I also no longer have the time to grind for hours a day and it's clear to me that UK cost of living makes hitting the big time a real stretch for non-students who are only normally - but not extraordinarily - talented.
I think you have at least two ways to go:
1. invest your own money in attempting to get lucky and hit the big time but treat the poker as a form of entertainment.
or,
2. stick to the grind, but look on it as a much more long term thing. Few of the skills necessary are really age dependent so even if it takes you 5 years to hit the high limits where you can make serious money, that's still an achievement.
If you choose 1. above, you have to realise that you suddenly fall into the category of players from whom pokerstrategists are actually making their living - i.e. regular depositors. The problem with depositing your own money is that even if you tell yourself that you'll just deposit until you hit the big time, there's no guarantee that time will come becuase in the long run it's really skill dependent and by depositing I think you actually remove the main driver to improve your play to the degree necessary to play at that level.
hope this makes sense - best of luck whatever you decide.
Tim
Hi All
Thanks for stopping by TIM64 and for your wise advice. Sorry for the delay in replying.
I have started a part-time business recently, as well as my full-time work, and haven't had my mind on poker so much.
I have done a fair bit of experimenting recently, as I couldn't make up my mind whether to go the cash game route or sng route.
I have recently played on my Full Tilt PS account and on my other Pokerstars account. I have - especially on my Pokerstars account - played steps satellites, cash games, sng's omaha etc.
I think I have decided that the way to go is Tim's no 2 way, and continue the grind thinking long term, rather than buy my way up (I haven't got the funds anyway !). However, I want to enjoy my poker, and the way I enjoy it most is by mixing it up this way. Also, I sometimes feel I don't want to multitable, but rather play one table and totally focus on the other players, to play my A game. This is much easier to do in an sng than a cash game, as the same opponents remain throughout, whereas, especially at the level I am playing, the cash game players come and go every few minutes sometimes.
Here is an example of the last few sessions I have played:
I played a single table cash game at NL10 level and made a small profit.
I played a $10 sng ( I know it's way out of my BR) and came 3rd. I don't advocate taking risks like that on a daily basis, but just when I am in the mood to play a single table and really focus, it's fun to play above my BR as a one-off shot. I do so on the understanding that if I get knocked out, I of course won't play one again for a while. BR management.
Last night on my Pokerstars account I played a $10 DON and got knocked out. I then played a heads-up for $3+, won it, played a rematch against the same opponent, and won that too, then went to bed a happy man, despite an overall loss due to the $10 ko.
So the point of all this is that:
1) I will put having fun playing poker first
2) Any game that I play on FT will still nevertheless be a serious attempt at building my BR
3) Any purely speculative stuff that I do, like omaha/ horse/steps etc will be done on my other account
4) I won't slavishly play x no. of games anymore just to move up the PS rankings, but hope to move up them eventually by building my BR longer term doing what I enjoy, and playing what I am in the mood for playing. If I want to fire up 8 tables of sng's do it, but if I want to play one table, do that too.
I don't see why this approach shouldn't work in the long term, as I will still be determined to play my best poker every game I play on FT.
For the record, things aren't too bad at the moment:
BR = $128.59
FTP = 2698.96
All the best
Bryan
I don't think that playing a tournament that is over your bankroll level is that bad if you play single table. You just need to control the tilt beast, because if you tilt and then start two tourneys with the same buy in it could get bad. Otherwise is just like playing live, with greater variance and greater attention.
Hi All
Thanks for dropping by RahXephon1. That was a very interesting post, especially since I have just played 4 x sng's multitabling and got knocked out of every one.
Apart from one horrendous bad beat, where a clown called my all-in with K5 OS and flopped a straight to his 5 (he obviously should be banned from playing poker for taking the game into disrepute. lol) I otherwise suffered a mixture of bad luck and if I am honest, ill-timed shoves by myself etc. I also was eating some supper at the same time, during the early stages, and so didn't give my full attention at each table. Had I been playing one table, I would have been able to.
I like cash games because the skill factor is more important, but the trouble, as I said in an earlier post, is the constantly changing tables at this level means it is hard to get to know your opponents well enough. On the other hand, I like sng's as they are of fixed duration, against constant opponents, but the end game involves too much luck.
I know we must study ICM, and I have done here, but at the end of the day it is still a lottery, with suckouts galore.
The other day I was all-in with what turned out to be the worst hand. I sucked out on my opponent by flopping a straight. It's funny how its really annoying when someone does that to you, yet quite amusing when you do it to someone else, isn't it ? It's even more amusing to me when my opponent feels the need to hurl insults at me in the chat box. lol.
All the best
Bryan
Hi All
Latest effort here was that I played a $5 sng and came 2nd.
BR = $128.16
So am still on the good side from my original starting point of the free $50, despite me moaning sometimes lol
All the best
Bryan
