Monday, December 31, 2007

It's dawned on me that I'm perhaps finishing in the money too much without getting a decent spot in the money, basically, I'm paying for myself some of the time, but not actually making anything.

So tonight I tried to open up a bit more. I just hasn't particularly worked out well. I seem to have got away with things a few times, but I'm exiting competitions in such a sad way it's just unbearable. My last competition exits have been AK (me) being called by AT, AQ called by KT, QQ beaten by TT and 9T being called by 87. I wouldn't mind but they've all called my bets and just beaten me.

I'm currently running ok in a Party $33 event which hopefully will cheer me up otherwise it's a grim end to the year for me having spunked my Stars account yet again.

Plan for the New Year,

Avoid Stars again - trouble is they have the best comps by far. Not only in terms of structure, but times and buy ins too.

OK avoiding Stars doesn't make that much sense. Well it does, but I don't want to so I'll cut down on Stars. I'll try and only play one or two of the $22 with 1 rebuy/addon or one $55 per week there and avoid the other ones I play. Perhaps the 360 max player $16.50 would be a good one for me. I can do it, I know I can, I just need to tweak something and as soon as I find out what it is, I will!

Watch the Cardrunners mtt vids - I must do more of this, I don't do enough. Must take notes where applicable.

What's that saying, if you don't recognise the fish after being sat at a table for 30 mins......... Trouble is I've been sat at it for over 2 years now.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

I've discovered the delights of PLO ring games. Well, I have played them before, but I'm getting in to them at the moment and I think I'll be giving them a decent bash.

Won a golf comp today too, only 9 holes but managed 22 points - was running good.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Managed to come 61st for $280 in the Stars game. Quite nice as I was down to my last $5 after registering for it! Crazy tournament at the late stages, it really is all in or fold. Another good cash for me though.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Poker is a funny old game and she doesn't take many prisoners. I've been feeling particularly sorry for myself recently as I've just been unable to cash in any tournament I've played in for what seems ages. Not only that, I've lost all my races, my aces keep getting cracked, I can't get people of flush draws regardless on the amounts I raise - you get the picture? Anyway, it does get me down I'll be honest.

I didn't think tonight was going to be much different after I had my aces beaten by 99 early on in the $30k on iPoker. I also managed to suffer some bad beats in a couple of 180 man sng's I was playing, but in the Blue Sq league event, things suddenly started going my way. I had a nice run of cards that all held up, made the FT as CL, took out a couple more people, then lucked out when my 77 beat TT and ended up coming 3rd for a small profit. In all honesty, bit disappointed not to win, but overall, delighted with 3rd. I'm even more happy with the boost to the bankroll which is pretty much what I've probably lost recently.

Not only that, but I'm hanging around in the massive Stars $100k. Only 20,000 runners to get through, but we're down to the last 1315 at the moment and OK I am struggling, but I'm on enough cash to make up for earlier losses in a sat I played to the Sunday Million.

As things would have it, it's turned out to be an ok night for me. I can't tell you how pleased I am to finally make a couple of cashes, it really does make it all worth while!

It's a funny old game!

Friday, December 07, 2007

Missed out on the Mansion promo this week, but I think it was because I dropped down a cash level. Moved back up to NL100 and was going ok till tonight. I was so so patient then I had AK and AA in two hands, raised to $3 and took the blinds. Then nothing for ages until I wake up to KK. I'm UTG so I just raised to $3, someone else raised to $10 and there's a caller - happy days? I push in and they both call, both having aces. No need to say anymore.

Meanwhile on my other table, I have 99 and limp in, hit top set on a 5 8 9 board and it's to me so I check. Matey bets $4.5 into a $3 pot so I assumed he was betting against draws so I flat call. Turn brings a 7, OK not too happy now, but I bet the pot and he moves in, which I call but he's already hit the straight with his JT. Apparently over betting the pot means it's a draw with him, crazy. No more to say here either.

Two buy in's gone in the space of about 20 seconds and thus ends a bad night for me. I hope the loss is enough to get me in the tourneys next week!

Saturday, December 01, 2007

After a busy week at work, I decided to pop to The Western for the freezeout last night. Nearly didn't make it due to bed time duties and also the crappy traffic on Hanger Lane. I was at the lights to go on to the roundabout for Hanger Lane at about 8.12pm, it was 28 past by the time I got off it. It's just shit. Oh that reminds me, I need to look up what 'sklep' means.

Anyway, made it in time, sat down, got moved, sat down again, played a few hands, moved again and finally settled down. I don't really think I got going during the first period but just before the break I managed to win a few and was about average again. Nothing then till I made a raise with 7's only to be put in but I was pretty committed so I called and thankfully he had 6's. The only other bits of bother I got into were with AQ to be called by 10's but thankfully I hit my ace and doubled up. With 14 left, I was obviously wanting to make the FT which thankfully I did as it seemed to take no time at all to get there. Nothing much happened there apart from sneeking a few blinds to keep up, then I doubled up with KK, took another pot with AT (I think it was) and all of a sudden we're down to 4. UTG with AK, I raised to 12k and the guy to my left pushed. He had me covered and I made the call and I was relieved to see AQ until the Q came on the flop and that was that. Disappointed to go out obviously but pleased with 4th. Think I played ok too. I was quite card dead for ages but I kept focus and didn't really get my chips in in desperation which I'm pleased about.

Looking forward to next time now.