So I started my challenge on Stars. It wasn't really intended but I managed to go almost busto and only had $11 in my account so rather than reload, I thought I'd give my $10 challenge a go, albeit with $11.

It's been just under two weeks and my first observation is that it's bloody hard at this level. The poker isn't so hard, it's avoiding the bad calls that's the hard bit, it's just amazing. Today I raised preflop to 600 (3xBB) and was called and beaten by T4o.

Anyway, I started off playing 1c/2c NLHE ring games and actually did ok for a while. Managed to double my roll pretty quickly but it's been a bit downhill since then. I managed to lose a massive $5 all in to pocket 8's holding KK but apart from that, I didn't really suffer too many losses. Ironically, my top 5 losing hands at this level include AA, KK and AKs. Was quite surprised at this. My most profitable hands include AKs (thankfully) QT and J8o :D

After the knock back with that monster pot, I moved to LHE but at 0.25/0.50. I wasn't rolled for this yet but played about 100 hands and just managed to not lose anything. Had a go at lower limit LHE but made small losses here.

After just under 1900 hands at this demoraling level, I thought stt's may be the way forward, but there's 20% juice for the $1 stt which is pretty pricey and they're full of bigger idiots/people that can't play than the cash games so I may avoid these again.

So at the moment, my Stars account is on $16.58. My most profitable game is full ring 1c/2c NLHE, I'm running at 24 BB/100 there, but I just not sure I can go back to grinding it out :cry: The only plus side to these is that you don't really need to concentrate so I generally fire two up whilst playing $0.25/$0.50 on another site where I can actually make money!

Anyway, it's just a small record like Knighters on how I can do at the small stakes with the goal of trying to build the account up to wherever.

The GUKPT has made me realise I need to be cutting down on internet play and getting more live games in so I've decided to try and really only play on the net Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Then I am hoping to miss out on Thursdays net activity to go and play at the Western. Reason for playing these three days is that I qualify for the Mansion biggies which are on these days. I'm not that fussed about the Thursday one as it's a $50 rebuy and that level is outside my BR.

Anyway, I've also decided that I'm going to try and concentrate on cash and satellites on the net when I do play. Cash because I need to play it to qualify for Mansion, but also because at my low levels, the games shouldn't be that hard. I'll try and use some of the money I make to play satellites which will either be for live events or for big mtt's. Currently I have qualified for ECOOP #4 which is an Omaha event, but sadly it's a $100 rebuy. I may not rebuy though!

Prior to the GUKPT, I'd pretty much done my Stars BR in playing tournaments. I'd only left $11 in there - not so tasty, so rather than deposit again, I'm going to grind out at the lowest limits. Tonight I played NL2 for 574 hands and made $9.56, nearly double my roll on there so I'm quite pleased. Running at 41 BB/100 can't be too shabby. OK, it's an easy level but I'll build gradually. Thankfully I stayed sane by playing NL50 on Mansion and finished a lovely $110 up!

OK it's Wednesday and that's supposed to be a non poker day, but the missus was out, what else am I supposed to do!

Started day two in reasonable shape, 34k, just over average, but the blinds of 600/1200 with 100 ante soon started to take their toll. Not much happened for a while for me. I managed to pick up a couple of small pots. Lost a small bit trying to get the blinds a couple of times, a lady who was in a Ladbrokes shirt either had my number or was just defending her blinds when I was after them. Anyway, she cost me about 5k which was quite painful early on. Knocked out a a short stack with AQ against his A8 which was a nice pot for me, then later on I raised from EP with AKs and faced another shorter stacks all in. If I passed then I'd have been in trouble myself but winning would have moved me back to average so I called and thankfully hit a K on the river to beat his QQ. Mad Marty then joined our table to a welcome of "Hi, I'm Mad Marty and I'm here to get all your chips". Quite a character, but I wasn't there for long before I was moved to Micky Wernock and Jeff Kimbers table.

Nothing went well for me here for ages. I had AJ in the BB but Leo Kam obviously had to raise the pot and I cowardly passed as I'd have had to move all in. He did it again when I held AQ, but I decided again to pass. Weak? Perhaps but I just don't know where I am. Finally I picked up AQ UTG+1 and raised to 12k (blinds 2k/4k 300 ante) and picked up the pot. A chip big stack raised later on and in the SB I had 77 so I pushed and was gutted to see him flip over 88, but thankfully a 7 on the flop let me sit back down again. Back up to 40kish but still needed a double up to be average and I thought it was coming when I completed the small blind with 76. There had been 3 limpers. The flop came 567 (2 diamonds) Top two, ok danagerous board but I had outs too I guess. Out of position, I bet 15k into the pot. All fold to the Big Stack who moved all in.

The worrying thing thinking back, is that I instacalled. OK, folding would have left me in trouble, but I didn't think to consider what he might have. I thought I was ahead when the flop came and didn't stop to consider other options. I went from being elated that I was about to get back in the game big time to gutted when he fliped pocket 6's. The 4 on the turn gave me a small hope of the straight, but there was no further help and I was out in about 42nd.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with things. My goal was to make the second day, which I obviously did, but having come so close to the money, I'm pretty gutted at the moment.

Back to the hotel who have a dodgy 'entertainer', typical old persons type entertainment so I've got IACGMOOH to drown out the wails and am going to take down the iPoker 6k and a $20 omaha tourney on Stars.

Thanks to blonde and Virgin for the opportunity to play in this GUKPT leg, it's been a great experience and I've really enjoyed it and it definately something I want to be playing more off. I was hoping to win that seat to the Grand Final, but I guess I'm going to have to qualify online now ;)

made it into day to in reasonable shape. Currently on 34,700 ish which is, going by last nights average, just above average.

Been a great day and I'm pleased to have been on tables full of well known poker names. I think the first table I was on was the best for a giggle. Neil Channing, Simon Zach and lots of others - Daniel Something, a young Liverpudian guy, others I can't remember, but they seemed to know each other and it was just good fun and I have to admit, I was a bit disapointed when our table was broken. Not much happened here for me except hitting a FH against a straight. Put me up to 11k and I sort of hovered around there till the table broke.

2nd table saw me on with Roberto, Ross (who I've just found out is Ariston), man does he talk, but he's a great character, the guy who won the Vic leg of this tour, and well, I just don't know who these people are but that's probably a good thing, but another good bunch to be sharing a table with. Ariston did give a bit of a moan when I checked down 3 way in a pot with AQ against his JJ and someone elses AJ. Well, you never know where you stand sometimes do you. He's moaned a bit though, it's all good fun. I was quite surprised when he called Roberto's raise with 73s and then hit two pair thus cracking his aces. Don't think Roberto was too pleased either. I guess the cash games will make up for it. Had a few nice hands at this table and was bumbling along nicely, then just before were broken, I had KK and a shorter stacked pushed with 88. Thankfully my cards held (I hit trips infact) and I took another 10k or so.

Table break again. Moved back to a table with Ariston, Willie Tann, Chaz Chattra, and again, apologies, I just don't know who you all are. I was on about 40k here and tried to raise with AJ but missed the flop with 1 caller, really missed it, raised with ATs against Aristons BB. He put me all in but i passed and he showed KK (good pass) and then I had to pass TT in the BB to a raise from someone that had me well covered. I just didn't want to get into it so late in the day and he showed AK so perhaps that was a good pass too. Thankfully we'll never know.

So on to day 2. I came here with day 2 as my goal and I've made it. Not only that, I'm in reasonable shape.

Cash games here are just sick. I haven't a clue what level the game I watched was at, but some guy paid £225 to see that he was beaten. He said he knew he was beat but he wanted to see! £225. The total pot was around £600 I think. Another pot I saw involved a bluff of £1200, when the other guy called, he just mucked his cards. It's a sick sick game and they're sitting there with thousands like it's nothing. It's just scary, I'll stay away. I did toy with having a bash on the £50 game but I chickened out and decided to throw away £20 on roulette instead - I'm such small fry it's unbelievable Cheesy

I've got to check out at 11am, so I guess I'd better get some kip, The room I'm in is booked out to someone else but there are other rooms I can move too, so I'll probably do that. I did consider moving closer to the hotel as it's about a mile away, but the walk is quite nice actually and probably does me some good if I'm just sitting there all day.

I'd like to say I was going into the GUKPT in good form, but I find myself yet again in a losing period. I have managed to go and play live though, at the APAT satellite at the Vic on Saturday, but I couldn't cash and finished an annoying and disappointing 14th. Thankfully I don't think I played that bad, just got unlucky when I pushed with AJ into a big stack who called with 88. Had to do something though as blinds were at 1500/3000 and I only had 14k.

Booked the hotel today and have hopefully got a nice room overlooking the sea. I think it has wifi so when I go back all by myself, I can take down an internet tourney to boost morale to carry me into Fridays activities!

I'm going to try and not play that much this week online, I have tomorrows Mansion tournament, but I'm not planning on playing much more.

Had to reload my Betfair account yesterday due to some unlucky punts, but managed to turn my £20 into £37.91 today thanks to Chelsea, Villa, Celtic and Rangers all winning (acca and individuals) but I think I may have done a bad thing having just laid Leon to be the next eliminated from the X Factor at 9.2 to win £4. Word on the forum is that he should be safe, but I'm a bit nervous betting £33 to win £4. Hopefully he'll be safe!

Paid my entry for the GUKPT yesterday at Reading Grosvenor. All went smoothly and I'm also registered for the Friday which means I can sail up at a leisurely pace. I better just confirm that I am on the Friday just before I leave though as getting there and finding out I'm being blinded away would be a bit of a shocker!

Although it's great to win this prize, I'm a little disapointed about the 'bells and whistles' associated with it. I'm not sure what I expected, but some form of note and message of good luck from Virgin would have been nice, but all the did was lump the money into my account, even without telling me, it just appeared. I kind of thought they'd say Well done, and try and get me to wear a Virgin Poker shirt or something like that. Alas, that wasn't to be and I'm just one of a few that's bought their own way in. I'm dead excited to be going though, can't wait but I need to get my live game on in the coming week.

Talking of live game, I didn't realise until today that the next regional APAT game is next Saturday so it's another trip to the Vic for me. That was good fun last time and I'm hoping not to suffer such bad beats this time!

As I've written, I've managed to trade out on the X Factor for a whopping £0.43 profit regardless on who goes out. I'm more comfortable now :)

It started off going so well last night, but then things seemed to all come down at once. I was playing in the Mansion $50 rebuy and because I'm not rolled for these but they are a free entry, I just play tight for the rebuy period and hope to double up, then get to work after the break not taking the add on. Anyway, goal achieved at the break sort of and I was on 3.9k, the average was around 4.8k prior to the add on. After the break I got a bit busy and was playing pretty good even if I do say so myself and managed to get in the pay out spaces and on around 12.5k, which at the time was just above average - good going.

Then in the BB I find myself holding TT. There's a preflop raises to 1000 (Blinds 200/400 so nothing special), all folds to me and I make the call. 1000 has been the standard raise for a while and seems to be taking down pots uncontested. Flop came 9 5 3. It's at this point the whole position thing has sunk in. The pots at around 2.9k, so I make a bet of 2.5k into it. The raiser flat calls. Turn brings an 8. What the hell do I do here? Checking would be the sensible thing, but I decide my tens are still good and push my stack into the middle. The other guy has no hesitation calling with his pocket aces and knocks me out and I've lost two hours of solid play because I insisted playing an average hand out of position.

At the same time I was playing two cash games to try and qualify for next weeks promo. In one game I was $10 up, the other $10 down - after two hours play! I'd been down a bit but got things back until one of the idiot short stacks joined our table with $10 and decided to just push every hand. On the third one, I had AK and decided that I had to be good so I made the $12.75 call (he was first to act, blinds 0.25/0.50) folds to another guy who had been quite aggressive when there had been other raises into the pot who pushes too for another $34 to me! So the pot is around $75 and it's going to cost me another $34 to get in. Rightly or wrongly, I figured that I was getting 2/1 and that it was worth the call. Anyway, idiot shortstack has KJo, matey has QQ and there's me with the AK. Sadly the flop came with a King and a Queen on it and I lost the pot. At the same time on the other table, I lost a bit more with another average hand.

I'm not quite sure what happened in that short ten minute period, but it all went wrong. I'm certainly not a good cash player though. I don't really have the nerve for it and I'm only doing it for the promotion.

It wasn't all bad though, I decided to give casino bonus whoring a go and made a $200 deposit on Victor Chandler and played blackjack for an hour. It started off OK and I managed to get from $200 to $240 pretty easy but then things started the other way and I lost half my starting stack. I carried on and in the end made a slight profit of $3.50 (wooo, get the champagne out!) which isn't great, but I qualified for £50 bonus and I should also get £25 in Rpoints bonus making a nice profit of about £75 for an hours nervous work. I'm not really sure I have the constitution for this either, but it seemed to go well last night and if I get the bonus out, I'll be a happy punter and may try another one. I understand things can go wrong, but it seems fairly easy to make (and lose) money.