hey mate, nice to see ur br building (slowly as everyoens but building 
)
dont u use soem trackign software or did I mention to u that u can download PokerScore? I just deleted link from my bookmarks so I cant paste it here but u iwll surealy find it
BTW cant u tell me how can I write 300dolar freerol on Pacific for RU? cause there is some RU freerol on site I play and its for russians (or their comunity) and I would liek to knwo if I can join
07/10
Starting BR: $104.43
Hello again.
So, played 8 SnGs since last I wrote. The first 4 happend two days ago (5th) and you know how I placed? 9, 9, 9, 9 - !!!! not playing my game any different to usual. Take the following as characteristic-hands:
Naff Hand 1
OK I would post a hand, but the converter WILL NOT CONVERT MY HANDS CORRECTLY! Can someone help me please. The following is a text form of my unlucky hand (with the names deleted). But when you convert it, I win!!! (which I certainly did not!)
Full Tilt Poker Game #15141326964: $2 + $0.25 Sit & Go (111036383), Table 1 - 20/40 - No Limit Hold'em - 15:36:11 ET - 2009/10/05
Seat 1: (1,200)
Seat 2: (1,315)
Seat 4: (950)
Seat 5: (1,500)
Seat 6: (1,770)
Seat 7: (3,930)
Seat 8: (1,350)
Seat 9: (1,485)
X posts the small blind of 20
X posts the big blind of 40
The button is in seat #2
HOLE CARDS
Dealt to PetroJo [Ks Kd]
X calls 40
OPPONENT raises to 240
PetroJo raises to 820
X folds
X folds
X folds
X folds
X folds
X folds
OPPONENT raises to 3,930, and is all in
PetroJo calls 530, and is all in
OPPONENT shows [9h 9s]
PetroJo shows [Ks Kd]
Uncalled bet of 2,580 returned to OPPONENT
FLOP [Jd 7h Ah]
TURN [Jd 7h Ah] [Ts]
RIVER [Jd 7h Ah Ts] [8h]
OPPONENT shows a straight, Jack high
PetroJo shows a pair of Kings
OPPONENT wins the pot (2,800) with a straight, Jack high
SUMMARY
Total pot 2,800 | Rake 0
Board: [Jd 7h Ah Ts 8h]
Seat 1: X didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: X (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: X (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: X (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: X folded before the Flop
Seat 7: OPPONENT showed [9h 9s] and won (2,800) with a straight, Jack high
Seat 8: PetroJo showed [Ks Kd] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 9: X didn't bet (folded)
Can you help me!?
Anyways, I played 4 more today: placing 1,2,3 and 5 - making $9 after the otherday's $9 loss!
So:
JB
Endingin BR: $104.43
GRR!!
Played 4 SnGs 2days ago... lost all 4... had a day off... played today.... lost all 4... I've placed
6,6,4,4...9,7,4,7
DAMN! Also, I had 3 of the WORST bad beat's I've ever had...
BB1
AGAIN: SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE CONVERTER: THE GUY CALLS WITH A :spade:, 3 
- and knocks me out on my 8th hand with a full house!
Hand converted with online PokerStrategy.com hand converter:
$15/$30 No-Limit Hold'em (9 handed)
Known players:
[tg]UTG1(Hero)$1485.00:///////;UTG2$900.00:///////;MP1$1440.00:///////;MP2$1455.00:///////;MP3$1980.00:///////;CO$1410.00:///////;BU$1320.00:///////;SB$1575.00:///////;BB$1935.00:///////;[/tg]
Preflop: Hero is UTG1 with K:s, K:h.
Hero raises to $90.00, 5 folds, BU calls $90.00, SB folds, BB raises to $150.00, Hero raises to $555.00, BU folds, BB raises to $1,965.00, Hero calls $930.00.
Flop: ($3525) A:c, 6:s, 4:s (0 players)
Hero gets uncalled bet back.
Turn: ($3525) A:h (0 players)
Hero gets uncalled bet back.
River: ($3525) 3:h (0 players)
Hero gets uncalled bet back.
Final Pot: $2595.
BB2
AGAIN!!!! The converter's mashed this up... the oponent calls with K :diamond:, Q I flop a full house!, but today, even that's not good enough... he gets a F***ing straight-flush
Hand converted with online PokerStrategy.com hand converter:
$120/$240 No-Limit Hold'em (4 handed)
Known players:
[tg]CO(Hero)$1920.00:///////;BU$2078.00:///////;SB$6418.00:///////;BB$3084.00:///////;[/tg]
Preflop: Hero is CO with T:h, T:c.
Hero raises to $1,920.00(All-In), 2 folds, BB calls $1,680.00.
Flop: ($3960) 9:d, 9:h, T:d (0 players)
BB gets uncalled bet back.
Turn: ($3960) Q:h (0 players)
BB gets uncalled bet back.
River: ($3960) J:d (0 players)
BB gets uncalled bet back.
Final Pot: $2280.
BB3
AGAIN!!!! The converter's nallsed this one right up... the opponent holds K♠, Q :club:, hitting 2pair...
Hand converted with online PokerStrategy.com hand converter:
$50/$100 No-Limit Hold'em (7 handed)
Known players:
[tg]BU(Hero)$1240.00:///////;SB$3110.00:///////;BB$1315.00:///////;MP1$1505.00:///////;MP2$2995.00:///////;MP3$845.00:///////;CO$2490.00:///////;[/tg]
Preflop: Hero is BU with A:d, A:s.
MP1 raises to $200.00, 3 folds, Hero raises to $400.00, 2 folds, MP1 raises to $1,505.00, Hero calls $840.00(All-In).
Flop: ($2895) 6:s, K:h, 5:d (0 players)
Hero gets uncalled bet back.
Turn: ($2895) Q:d (0 players)
Hero gets uncalled bet back.
River: ($2895) 3:d (0 players)
Hero gets uncalled bet back.
Final Pot: $2055.
Not succeeding in poker, nor in converting sodding hands, i sign off to go to bed early...
Ending BR: $94.55
Oh,
brooding as I am...
Here are the statistics of me losing against random hands
BB1 - 17.604%
BB2 - 24.988%
BB3 - 14.796%
So, the overall probability that these events hypothetically would happen is:
0.6508593974592% - That's 0.651% (3.DP)
And against the hands I actually played against
BB1 - 29.409%
BB2 - 46.444% (But with the flop - ME, HAVING A FULL HOUSE = 5.152%)
BB3 - 12.879%
The overall probability of the ACTUAL events, is:
0.1951363848672% - That's 0.195% (3.DP)
So in the reality of the cards that were dealt, I was 0.456% less likely to lose!, but still did!!
I'm that unlucky 0.195 S.O.B
05/03/2010
How the times change!
So It's been AAGGEES!
And cutting out the bull, my BR dropped to $75ish, and then has shot all the way up to $246.32
So I've gone through the $2.25 range, through the $5.50 and have just started on the $11 SnGs. I'm also about to go into the big scary world of FINALS. Exams start in 8weeks, so I'm hitting the books 8am-6pm, and then giving myself girlfriend and poker time in the eve.
Anyways, one small step closer to getting the $2k!
How's your play going?
Hey joe,
I'd recommend against you playing on the $11's with a BR of only $246, you could end up broke due to a rather small down swing, I'd recommend dropping down a limit. But it's up to you, good luck in your finals.
peche
p.s. check out lessthanthree's blog if you haven't already, he's done basically exactly what you want to do $50 up to 2k+
07/03/2010
Bank roll is currently: $308.12
Woot! on a roll! the upswing feels nice!... I don't think anyone would disagree with that!
Yeah, I know this limit's a little high for my current BR. And I now play about half $5.25 SnGs / half $11.
Today, I played 2 $11s - came 2nd and 1st; two $5.25s - coming 4th and 1st.
Anyways, time for eating. Take care
x
Hi guys,
I had 2 sesh's where I played 4 tables at once. Came first in one, lost all others... gave up 4-tabling pretty swiftly...
So I lost $$$ down to about $270, then played another 8 since last I posted (in pairs) and placed in most of them. Now my BR is up to $304.
If I've been pestering you about tracking software, dont worry about it. I've just got Pokerscore, which I'm going to use (honestly). Also, sorry that my posts have been dry, I plan on putting more focus on my poker.
Thanks and good luck at the tables!
hi joe,
nice blog! ill keep an eye on it.
if you look at the first few pages of my blog you can see my quest through the low limit SnGs. ive got full statistics and advice for beginners which i think you should look at. you can see some swings in my graphs which are very common in sng's this will help give you some perspective. remember it will take a long long long time to get 1,000 games if you are playing 2 at a time.
GL <3
Hi Joe,
Just noticed your blog for the first time.
I second what <3 said. If you look at <3's, mine or Tim64's blog you will see what can and more importantly WILL happen. Swings can be hard to take but if you can learn to handle them...well you are a better player than me ♦
I wouldnt play the $11 games untill you have well over $1000, 50 buyins swings will happen, they do to everyone....yes even pro's!
Good luck to you sir ♦
Hey guys,
Thanks for the wise words. It's really great that players of different experience can come together and pool knowledge.
Thanks especially for the advice, RE: downswings. Being honest, I felt that it was down to my game (not in the MT'ing, but the drop from 120ish to 70ish on $2.25 SnGs). I felt, for want of a better word, because it seems stupid, insecure.
I've read SOOO much about tourney poker now, Brunson, Harringon (1-3) - which I own, and would highly reccomend, as well as the articles and videos here (on repeat). What reason do I have for this insecurity? none. Just downswings. Blips in an upwards, if somewhat slowly upwards, curve of profit and learning.
I really do enjoy poker. It's such a fascinating game. I'm sure you'll all agree. I really enjoy watching people react to situations, and it happens in so many ways in poker. Tilt, fear, dominance...
Anyways... things with my girlfriend aren't too great at the mo'. Who knows what's going to happen with that chapter.
But, as far as my poker is going, still on some sort of up: I played 2 today (I've had a busy day of interviews and libraries, running and singing - yes that's right, I'm learning to sing). I came 6th in the first SnG, and 2nd in the second.
So, a graph of the last 2 days looks like (done with Pokerscore, which I love, thanks for the suggestion):
So, my current bankroll is standing at a mighty:
$318.88
So, off to sleep. See you soon,
Joe
Originally posted by joeburrows
Thanks especially for the advice, RE: downswings. Being honest, I felt that it was down to my game (not in the MT'ing, but the drop from 120ish to 70ish on $2.25 SnGs). I felt, for want of a better word, because it seems stupid, insecure.
Hey Joe. I can understand the above really well. As crazy as it seems. I went through a period where it became almost impossible for me to play, because each time I was beaten I started to feel, for want of any other description, ashamed and humiliated. Crazy, huh? It started to corrode my wellbeing, cloud my judgement, and generally make me feel sick just at the thought of opening a poker client. Just couldn't face lining up for the punishment anymore.
The real poison is that I could no longer tell if what I was doing was correct. Total loss of objectivity.
I finally reconnected with the simple truth of poker. That is, correct decisions are the win. What happens after that is meaningless.
These days I am conscious of this as I am playing. I am able to clearly see correct decisions. If I am AI with the best hand, I feel good, because I have just won. After that, I don't feel anything at all, because there is no point. My winnings have been decided by the % at the time of the AI.
When I begin to get attached to the outcome, and start to feel hurt if it doesn't go my way, that, for me, is the beginning of tilt, and it is time for me to take a break.
So far, this is working well, and I can sit down with optimism, and enjoy playing sessions again.
Hey acid. You're completely right.
Getting insecure, whilst being bound to happen even to seasoned pros during a downswing, is completely counter productive. It's going to do nothing but throw me off the scent of a good, well earned A-Game. Which...
... has been going well(-ish) today. I MT'd 4 $3.80 SnGs. Placed 2nd in one and 4th, 4th and 6th in the others. So much for that.
I also MT'd 4 $5.50 SnGs. I played well. I think I played my A-Game, finishing 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st. ♦
So I'm going to give stats for the day (to give some kinda milestone for future ones)
see below
-------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, so I posted the above a few hours ago. I then played 4 (MT'd) $5.50 SnGs. Placed in all of them 3rd, 2x2nd and 1st. ♦
MT'ing is nothing to fear (well, I would say that having placed in 7/8 games MT'd today! But as long as you don't chase tables, keep cool, concentrate on the game, not the cards - then it's just a sped up version of mono-tabling. Thanks for the advice and support chaps!
SO, in the past two days alone, here are my stats:
Stats
Games so far in March (2days of it) - 20
Placing 1st - 4
Placing 2nd - 5
Placing 3rd - 4
Profit made - $91.86
RoI - 89.01%
In the Money - 65%
DEEE-RUM-ROLL-PLEASE......
(makes motor-boat-sound with lips)
- 
- BR - $369.28 - -
joeburrows, great blog m8, I'm in a similar situation to you. Started with the $50 and quickly built it up to $165 on NL10 cash games. Then after 1 hand I just went on a massive losing streak accompanied by massive amounts of tilt and dropped to about $85 within days.
Took week off whilst travelling, started reading some books, watching some videos and really thinking about poker. Slowly built up some confidence whilst playing and the BR is back to up near the $165 mark.
Best thing I've learnt over the weeks is that you need to be prepared to lose, no matter what cards you have. If you can handle that, you will win more money in the long run.
Don't know if you know about weaktight.com but you can post your full sng handhistory session then select the hands you want to post on here. Formats them quite nice too!
Hey thanks for the comment ashi11. Being prepared for loss - in life and poker is a necessary life skill.
But doesn't that sound so pessimistic?
NO - I'm currently LOVING POKER AGAIN (and life's great :))
I've got my Oxford finals coming up, so blogging won't be promised, but poker playing is a guarantee.
Brief update: losing streak - break - then back to poker. winning did happen... so did some losing, but it's all good.
BR went up to $450 but it's hovering around there.
some stats and graphs for this month:
my ROI
my profit
so my br is in the 440s i think. enjoying poker and life - back to the books!
So if you ever remember my attempts at poker back in 2009, you'll remember I was SNGing on Fulltilt. Well here's an update since 2009:
* I did my finals and got a solid 2:1 (coming top in my year in one of my papers :))
* I am now a teacher, and spent the last year-and-a- half of my life qualifying for it.
* I am playing poker again.
* I grinded my SNG up to $600. THen finals happened. Then FullTilt became bastards and now I have to start all over again. Bastards.
* I transfered £50 to a small UK poker network, and have decided to start cash-gaming.
I've been reading a LOT of poker material, watching a lot of vids, and playing a lot in the past week in particular. I freaking love poker. Anyway, here's my stats ang progress.
I started grinding up the 0.01/0.02 on this site, and lost a lot (despite recently having read the WHOLE Harrington series on cashgame). I found that I'm not the only one with this problem. So I adapted my strategy, and brought the roll back up to 50. After hitting the £80 mark, I stepped up to 0.02/0.04. Again, I'm not winning. At least, as of yet, I'm not loosing either. Just about breaking even.
I've got HoldemManager2 to help me. Here are my stats for the past few days (I've been 10-tabling 0.01/0.02):
And here's my winnings pic:
I'm just about to play a couple of hours at 0.02/0.04. I will write again then, to let you know how it goes. I really would like some direction as to how to improve my game though; any tips / links to posts that have a good 0.02/0.04 strategy??
All the best
Quick update.
Played 2hours on my site.
BANKROLL: £90.19
Graph of today's session, which left me in profit of £4.69:
So as you can see, I am going to keep on at 0.02/0.04, varying my strategy untill I crush it.
On Saturday, I'm going to post about how I've done specific strategy changes. Today I used a completely different strategy to what I had been using yesterday, and it seems more profitable, although only two small sessions of data aren't a lot to go on!
I've also configured my hud, which I'll explain.
All the best.
Hello all again,
So when we left off, I was grinding my way through NL2. Well, After I hit the £80 threshold, I've been experimenting with NL4, my HUD, and different strategies, which I'll discuss in another post.
I've played almost every day for the past week, and generated the following results:
And here is a graph of profit/hands played:
As far as I can tell, this progres seems to be ok / standard. From what I can read in blogs here, the going is slow at NL4, and it just has to be grinded out.
I think the thing I find it hard to deal with is the variance: one day, up £24, next day, down £22, playing exactly the same. Ah well. So here are my top 3 most profitable hands to date:
TO BE POSTED ONCE I've FIGUED OUT HOW TO CONVERT FROM HM2
Hello all!
Update - bank roll is £92.99
Having played 10k hands, I'm really surprised at how slowly I'm progressing, so I'm going review my strategy. Read the articles. Get it learnt. Get playing.
I've been short-handed 6-tabling. I'm going to keep short-handing, but drop to 1, then maybe 2.
Eventually I'll get back to 4, but my winrate is SO UNBELIEVABLY slow!
I am also going to work on improving my EV. I'm not, in all honesty, entirely sure what that means, but it seems that that could be the key to winning more in the long run.
In theory, I shouldn't be finding 4NL so hard. But I've put a lot of work into it, to get NOWHERE!
Will let you know what I learn.
All the best.
