DAY 27 - 12/31/06 - Two Brutal Hands

Today: -$27.05
To date: +$82.55
To go: $730.45
Bankroll: $1686.55

370 hands *** 1.08 hours *** -7.31 PTbb/100 *** 18.11/12.43 ***

I got stacked twice today with 2 brutal hands. First one I get KK in LP. I raise and BB calls. Flop is all hearts and rags. I have K of hearts. I get checked raised and decide to push. Guy insta calls and turns over 7-4! No Heart!!!?? He had middle pair. Of course he turns non-heart two pair and cracks my Kings. WTF. That guy was a huge donk and I hate seeing them win: http://www.pokerhand.org/?708189

2nd hand not so brutal I guess. UTG makes it $1.50. I hate these weak bets. It's like a mini raise. Why don't they just hit the pot button? It just screams PP or 2 big cards not so strong. So awful. I have QQ in SB. I make it $6 and he calls. Flop is 9 high and I c-bet and get called. I put him in on turn to see is pocket 9's for trips. http://www.pokerhand.org/?708193

There was one hand where I had AQ and opponent had AQ and he turned flush and I paid him off when Q hit on river. http://www.pokerhand.org/?708196

Same situation today. If it weren't for those 2 hands I'd be up over a hundo today. (If my aunt had 2 balls, she'd be my uncle.) Stalled again. I will be posting monthly stats later. I basically broke even for the month of December which is weird. November and December I am even with no growth to bankroll. How did I turn $50 into $7500 last year? I don't know.

I am pleased though with my game now after my December 13th tweaking. My numbers are good. I get hands in and my stacks grow now. It just sucks that I only can play about 1 hour a day, so wife doesn't get too mad. So when I get stacked at end of session, it really sucks I can't play another hour and make it back.

DAY 26 - 12/30/06 - KK vs. AA Stacking Comeback

Today: -$2.70
To date: +$109.60
To go: $703.40
Bankroll: $1713.60

339 hands *** 0.98 hours *** -0.80 PTbb/100 *** 17.11/13.27 ***

Got it all in with KK vs AA preflop. I hate that: http://www.pokerhand.org/?708200

Made a good comeback though with some key hands.

I keep reviewing stats on pokertracker and they are right where I want to be. Seems like my losses now are from bad beats instead of bad play. I'm kinda stalled with moving up, but it will click and explode upwards one day. It's not about how hard you get hit, its about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward......

P.S. Saw Rocky Balboa today. LOL.

DAY 25 - 12/29/06 - Blew it

Today: +$18.90
To date: +$112.30
To go: $700.70
Bankroll: $1716.30

399 hands *** 1.20 hours *** 4.74 PTbb/100 *** 18.80/12.53 ***

So I had a nice win of $46 posted and left me 20 points to get to my 100 points a day goal for the Ironman Gold Freeroll and I drop like $30 trying to get last 20 points. Key hand was I flopped a flush with Q-10c, and bet pot sized bets on flop and turn, and 4th club comes and guy bets $20 into $35 pot. Duh? Calling me down with Ac. I folded: http://www.pokerhand.org/?702629

Guy said he flopped flush too with A. His betting pattern followed it, and the old me woulda paid that $20 on the end, but I saved myself some money.

DAY 24 - 12/28/06 - Dumb Move

Today: -$30.10
To date: +$93.40
To go: $719.60
Bankroll: $1697.40

551 hands *** 1.55 hours *** -5.46 PTbb/100 *** 19.42/13.43 ***

I know hindsight is 20/20, but I had dumb hand today where I got stacked. Had 10-10 and got mini raised on my pot sized 7 high board. I push all in to see his set of 2's: http://www.pokerhand.org/?702609

Kinda struggling lately with challenge. I think I'm playing a lot better and my poker tracker numbers are better now, but results are stalled. I got a tip from Jon to use Idleminer and Sixth Sense. I'm gonna try that out for better table selection.

DAY 23 - 12/27/06 - Stacked a Donk

Today: +$52.10
To date: +$123.50
To go: $689.50
Bankroll: $1727.50

277 hands *** 0.98 hours *** 18.81 PTbb/100 *** 19.13/14.08 ***

Had interesting table dynamics tonite. Limp, limp, limp, limp. I was playing ABC, and hammering good hands. They all call every time, every table???!? Then they lead out 50 cents into $5 pots. Guy in middle would reraise to $5. And I'm sitting there with AQ, AK, JJ, folding and waiting when Im missing flops. Then it clicked. Hands were hitting. Donks were paying. I got back to even after being down about $50.

Then stacked a donk. Weee: http://www.pokerhand.org/?702613 I have no idea what he was doing here. He was awful and I had a strong draw and went with it. Turns out I was way ahead!

DAY 22 - 12/26/06 - Bad Beat Switch On!

Today: -$42.00
To date: +$71.40
To go: $741.60
Bankroll: $1675.40

294 hands *** 0.97 hours *** -11.61 PTbb/100 *** 18.37/13.61 ***

I got stacked twice today with horrible beats. I got 1 out-erd today which was awesome. I flopped a boat and guy called with his trips and rivers his 1 outer. Glad he was short stacked. I about smashed my monitor: http://www.pokerhand.org/?696658

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Same table a little later: I have 10-10. Flop is garbage, I c-bet and guy insta-reraises me 4x my c-bet. Now I know no one at these levels would play a set like this, so I push. He insta calls. He hits gut shot and I about lose it. I turned chat on and berate the table. I am so bad at controlling my emotions when these donks win these awful hands. I need to work on that aspect of my game: http://www.pokerhand.org/?696663

Donk says to me after hand: "I had top pair, and a gutshot, obviously you don't know anything about poker." So, with his insta call of my all-in 3 bet, his logic was that he had 9 outs to beat my hand. 30% to win with 2 to come? Is that a +EV play in the long run? Whatever. I shut that table down, since I was starting to be concerned with the chat box.

I am thinking that how can I play this GD game any better with these fish handing me their money. I should be up like $150 today. Unreal. Being down 42 after 2 stackings is something I guess. Maybe I'll win the Garmin today so I can't get lost anymore.

DAY 21 - 12/23/06 - The Setup

Today: +$95.65
To date: +$113.40
To go: $699.60
Bankroll: $1717.40

337 hands *** 1.08 hours *** 28.38 PTbb/100 *** 17.51/12.17 ***

I never set a player up for a stacking like I did today. It was simply awesome. I think I had the guy on tilt and I did it in the span of about 10 hands. I love playing LAG style and then when you have a hand they pay you off.

Hand #1: http://www.pokerhand.org/?696672 - Got lucky on turn. Didn't like his mini-raise preflop, so I put him on huge hand.

Hand #2: He was tilting about his QQ getting cracked and then I go with a good hand and it pays off: http://www.pokerhand.org/?696675

Played another session at nite to clear 30 pts towards my 100 pts/day goal. I was on fire again and won another buyin. Had a beautiful hand with JJ when I flopped a set and then turned a boat. Check called the turn to look weak to get my value bet on river paid off. Gotta love it: http://www.pokerhand.org/?696678

DAY 20 - 12/22/06 - Sick today....literally.

Today: +$9.60
To date: +$17.75
To go: $795.25
Bankroll: $1621.75

365 hands *** 1.15 hours *** 2.63 PTbb/100 *** 19.18/11.51 ***

Only played a few hands between waves....if you know what I mean. I hate being sick. Gave profit back on last hand when I had 88 UTG and got called by Q-9 off. Blah. Will do recap when I get to office computer and have access to my pokertracker.

DAY 19 - 12/21/06 - Hi Mr. Variance You A-hole!

Today: -$90.15
To date: +$8.15
To go: $804.85
Bankroll: $1612.15

325 hands *** 0.97 hours *** -27.74 PTbb/100 *** 18.15/12.92 ***

Today was awful. All c-bets getting fired back. Getting 2 pair, and board "runner-runnering" 4 card flushes. Straights getting cracked by flushes. 2-pairs cracked by straights. The good run came to an end and i dropped almost 2 buy-ins. One of those nights again.

I got caught up with chat box and tilted off partial stack to this guy because I was steaming. That's why I shut off player chat, and tonite I did otherwise and it burned me. I got emotional and logged off. It seemed like every hand was hitting tonite and I was getting rerasied every time I caught a piece.

I was up about $30 at one point and I had $120 swing. I think I cursed myself today by talking about how good I was running and posting graphs.

POKERGRAPH - 12/13 to 12/20

I used the pokergraph program to generate above .JPG. Since the 13th when HyperAggrDonk helped me tweak stats, I'm running at 10.31BB/100 over past 2350 hands. I think my new style of play is really working. I made up most of my tilt session when I was lost earlier in the month, so I'm pretty happy about that.

DAY 18 - 12/20/06 - Blah

Today: +6.60
To date: +$98.30
To go: $714.70
Bankroll: $1702.30

382 hands *** 1.13 hours *** 1.73 PTbb/100 *** 21.20/15.18 *** MT:3.68

One of those days where I couldn't get anything going. Was up like $25 at one point near end of session. Had a good hand with Q-9 in BB flopping 2 pair. His SB raise seemed like obvious steal attempt, so I called with my mediocre hand. I checked river hoping he didn't have some ace-rag 2 pair type hand but it turns out he was on a draw. http://www.pokerhand.org/?684855

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Then I got JJ and bet 8 high flop whole way to get check raised on river from $12 to $36. I put opponent on set and typed in chat box I was laying down JJ to his trip 10's. He typed bad laydown after hand, but I will never know. Blah. http://www.pokerhand.org/?684852

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I always post hands and pokertracker stats the next morning from my computer at my office. I really thought I played tight again this session, but was surprised to see my 21/15 in the morning. Running through my position stats, I was right on too. Button and cutoff, loose. UTG and UTG +1 tight. SB stat was a little tight at 19.44, but I hate being out of position unless I have a monster. It used to be 36, when I was losing.

DAY 17 - 12/19/06 - In the Zone, then Donked....

Today: +74.65
To date: +$91.10
To go: $721.30
Bankroll: $1695.70

394 hands *** 1.22 hours *** 18.95 PTbb/100 *** 17.26/10.66 *** MT:3.79

I was in the zone tonite. It was simply Awesome. I won a ton of hands tonite. My Won $ at SD% was like 66%. Played a little tight tonite, but after the hand below I couldn't get the flow back.

So I am up like $125 at one point and trying to hit my goal of 100 points a day for Iron Man Golden Freeroll. I'm only like 4 points away and I get KK in LP. I raise after its folded to me and BB mini raises to $4. At this limit, this is 90% of the time Pocket AA. It happened to me at start of session when I cracked them with 8-9 sooted. I call and flop a K. Perfect. Trip kings to Kong this guys AA. He bets 10 instantly. I push pot which essentially puts him all-in, it was like another $3 to go in. So in the middle of all this, the phone rings, my dog steals my external hard drive and is running around with it in his mouth, and my wife was sleeping and wakes up to answer phone and yells at me. My set of Kings gets cracked and Mojo is totally gone.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?682438

I couldn't wait to log off and was all mad I was up only $75. LOL.

HANDS OF THE DAY:

QQ: Made C-bet and got lucky on turn. Opponent played his KK like a donk. Why is he calling me down too?

http://www.pokerhand.org/?682441

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QQ: Laid down best hand when it was 3-way pot. I really put the middle guy on flush when diamond hit and he came out betting to isolate the all-in short stack. F.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?682444

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8-9 sooted owns: Make preflop bet and get mini-raised to $3. Warning. I call and flop 2 pair which is nice. I think I left money on table on river, but 4 card straight gave JJ a nice hand so I checked since I put him on JJ, QQ, KK, AA.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?682447

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5-6 sooted: This guy was doing this to me all nite. I'd bet preflop and he'd call or raise out of position in blind. Then he'd lead 50 cents on flop, 50 cents on turn, then Pot the River. I called him down here light, but I figured out what his pattern was and he was scared the rest of the session. Sometimes it's worth paying them off to get information:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?682450

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DAY 16 - 12/18/06 - Not bad

Today: +17.05
To date: +$17.05
To go: $795.95
Bankroll: $1621.05

488 hands *** 1.40 hours *** 3.49 PTbb/100 *** 21.11/13.93 *** MT:3.80

Was up about $50 at one point, then I got hammered in a span of 5 minutes. Was trying to clear my bonus before it expired and I was $1.20 short of my next $20 at expiration. Kinda mad about that since I missed it by a little bit.

HANDS OF THE DAY:

#1: Tried to get cute here with a short stack and I ended up doubling him up. Didn't feel like he had a J. http://www.pokerhand.org/?678778

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#2: Pocket 9's. His blocking bets threw me off. I put him on some sort of small pair as hand was playing out. When he checked the river to me, I wanted to represent a flush with my river bet. When he insta-called, I was like oh crap........and I came out smelling like a rose.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?678784

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#3: Pocket 3's. I made standard raise on button and got re-popped in BB. I called for implied odds and position flopped another miracle. I check raised him all in and put him on AA, as you can see from my chat during the hand. I think the chat made him call. LOL. Weee:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?678791

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Pretty happy with my numbers since the 13th. I think my play today was ok. Made a few donk plays, but overall the 3rd win in a row is nice for once.

DAY 15 - 12/17/06 - BOOM

Today: +123.90
To date: -0- EVEN STEVEN
To go: $813.00
Bankroll: $1604.00

333 hands *** 1.00 hours *** 37.21 PTbb/100 *** 22.22/15.32 *** MT:3.83

Took Friday and Saturday off due to being out of town for wife's family xmas. Played awesome tonite. People handing me their money. Stats were right on again! I actually thought I played kinda tight tonite. I finally signed up for pokerhand.org, so I can post some hands without making my blog huge.

Here are some good hands:

#1: http://www.pokerhand.org/?677805

I like to smooth call in position with a vulnerable hand sometimes. This time it worked out great by flopping a boat. I love that. I thought I'd slow-play the boat hoping someone had trips. It worked out perfectly after he check raised and I knew I was doubling my stack if my hand held. NO JACK!!! NO 8!!!! NO JACK!!! NO 8!!!!

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#2: http://www.pokerhand.org/?677808

I actually thought about folding this hand putting opponent on a set of 6's. I called with top 2 pair and was pleasantly surprised.

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#3: http://www.pokerhand.org/?677813

His lead bet on the river was a typical blocking bet and confused me. I could have gotten the rest of his stack, but KQ scared me.

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#4: http://www.pokerhand.org/?677817

I love getting reraised pre-flop with Aces. My hand held and it felt good. This guy was a 64/36 so he was going to give me action!!

DAY 14 - 12/14/06 - Here we go!

Today: +40.50
To date: -123.90
To go: $936.90
Bankroll: $1480.10

231 hands *** 0.65 hours *** 17.53 PTbb/100 *** 20.35/14.29 *** MT:3.77

Played a short session after work. Felt good again today!! It' amazing how you tweak 1 little thing and my pokertracker numbers are right where they should be. Finally posted a win. Weeeeee!

Had aces dealt to me 4 times! Once was brilliant where I had a LAG image. I raised the last 3 hands in a row, with decent holdings, and then I get AA in BB. SB limps and I raise. He repops. I repop all in and the sucker calls with A-10 sooted. TY sir. He was short stacked so it was a quick $20: http://www.pokerhand.org/?678051

I really stuck to Hyper's tip about laying down a hand once my c-bets/blocking bets got some resistance on some scary boards even when I got a piece. I think I was spewing money off in those situations before. Just move on to next hand.

DAY 13 - 12/13/06 - TURNING???

Today: -$21.95 +$20 Bonus=-$1.95
To date: -164.40
To go: $977.40
Bankroll: $1439.60

508 hands *** 1.58 hours *** -4.32 PTbb/100 *** 20.08/14.57 *** MT:3.79

Well, I think the tide is turning even though I posted a small loss. I got stacked twice due to bad beats, so breaking even felt good to me. My pokertracker stats today were great. All my position stats dead on too, and I felt like "I finally got it!" I'd like to thank HyperAggrDonk for the time to help me and shoot me his stats and comments about ABC poker. I am excited to play again with my newly plugged "leaks." Today was by far the best poker I have played in 13 days. My stacks were growing at every table, people were handing me their money, until the bad beats came, but that's gonna happen:

http://www.pokerhand.org/?678053 : I called in position with AQ and when it got repopped in BB, the only reason again I called was for position and to see a miracle flop. The mini raise on the flop was awful. I should have popped him to $30. River was blood boiler, since I put him on this hand exactly. It's like I can see the cards sometimes.

I really worked on position in today's session, since my pokertracker stats showed I was playing way too much in EP.

Check out the comments section from yesterday's post. Hyper posted great strategy tips. Thanks man. #2 is great. There are so many times when I get reraised and call down miserably to see the nuts. Like falling in love with AA or KK and can't lay it down when I know I'm beat.

Check out http://hyperaggrdonk.blogspot.com/

It's one of the best poker blogs I follow. He is Green Plastic's new protege, and should be interesting to watch him move up and reach his goals.

Later.

DAY 12 - 12/12/06 - Murdered Again

Today: -$178.30
To date: -162.45
To go: $975.45
Bankroll: $1441.65

317 hands *** 1.35 hours *** -88.63 PTbb/100 *** 23.03/15.14 *** MT:3.15

Got absolutely killed today. Analyzed some hands in Pokertracker where I lost a ton.

Hand #1: J-10 Sooted in SB. I limp into short stack BB who makes it $2. I call and see flop of 10-9-2 rainbow. I check raise his c-bet to $12 and he goes all in for $14 more and I call to see his A-10 and lose $30. http://www.pokerhand.org/?678061

Hand #2:A-10 in BB. Button 3 bets to $1.50, so I call. Flop is A-J-7. I check to button and he checks. Turn is a 10. I bet pot and he raises me to $10. I call and check call his river pot bet to see his KQ. Probably should came out firing on flop and when I got check raised on turn, shoulda mucked. 2 mistakes in 1 hand: http://www.pokerhand.org/?678066

Hand #3: QJ sooted on the button. UTG weak player mini raises. I repop him to $3 and he calls. Flop is 9-5-J with 2 hearts. He checks and I bet $4 into 6.75 pot and he mini raises to $8. Turn is 3 hearts. He bets 7 into 23. I call. Riv is another 3 and He bets 12 into 37 and i call and pay off his flush. After the hand he apes me for reraising with QJs? Guy at my table stuck up for me. He said UTG was awful to call reraise with Q-10 and then Check raising out of position with heart draw was donkish too. I didn't say anything. Kinda agreed:http://www.pokerhand.org/?678068

Hand #4: Pocket 99 On button. Raise and get called by BB. Flop is Q high, and he comes out firing. I call him down to the end and try to make a move when river pairs. Of course he called with KQ. http://www.pokerhand.org/?678071

Couple of other hands I come in raising and make c-bet to get called. Shut down on turn and call river bets in position when I caught a piece.

Then I Played some $1/2 NL CAP game with Erbo and got stacked for $60 with JJ vs A-10. Flop had overs and made c-bet. Got called and shoulda shut down. Turn brought str8 draw and I fired 2nd barrell and got called by A-10. I was at a point where I was down over 250 for the day and then made a little come back and logged off. $120 of my loss was from $50 NL.

In the middle of playing, Full Tilt Crashed. All my tables were super slow and it kicked me off 1 time. I lost momentum and blew thru $20 timing out, etc. I logged off at that point and decided to wait til later.

ANALYSIS: I think i played awful today. I called people down with middle pair when I shoulda just folded. I think I called way too many hands out of position too and had no idea where I was at when I caught a piece of the flop. My attempt to steal blinds and VIP and PF raise numbers are right where I wanted them today. I need to work on my post-flop play.

DAY 11 - 12/11/06 - DownSwing

Today: -$64.60 (Cleared $20 Bonus)
To date: -42.80
To go: $855.80
Bankroll: $1619.85

783 hands *** 2.32 hours *** -10.8 PTbb/100 *** 23.5/16.35 *** MT:3.84

I analyzed pokertracker stats after my 10 days and compared them to some of the cardrunners pros. My attempt to steal blinds was low and Went to SD% was low too. I am going to make a conscious effort to be looser on the button when its folded to me. It should get my 18/12 up to 20/15.

Played a session after work that was just a disaster. Was down over $160 at one point and I was tilting. That always happens when I try to tweak something with my game. QQ getting cracked by k-10, etc. Ended up -90. Came back at nite and my head was a little clearer. Felt I was playing great poker. Hovered just above even and cleared $20 bonus. Down less than 1 buyin for challenge. I'm proud of how I played tonite and stayed tough after my tilt session in afternoon.

10 DAY RECAP

To date: -58.20 + 80.00 BONUS = +$21.80
To go: $791.20
Bankroll: $1684.45

5273 hands *** 15.63 hours *** -1.10 PTbb/100 *** 18.43/12.00 *** MT:3.63

So after 10 days, I am basically back to where I started. I am having bad thoughts again that I can't beat NL $50 because of the bad players. 5300 hands is not a big enough sample to tell if I am a winning or losing player yet. But I thought I'd be up about $260 or so right now with my goal, instead I am even.

My numbers are screwed up because of that one day I played on stars outside of the challenge. I think I am just going to keep track of how much I win/lose just playing the $50 NL and whatever else I do will be separate. So my bankroll and "To Go" numbers will be off. The magic number will be the "to go" number. It will be based on original goal to make $813 to move up to NL $100.

BONUS: NL $50 6 max averages 0.271 points per hand on Tilt. So, it takes about 1230 hands to reach each $20 Bonus increment. I have been hitting this about every other day. It takes about 3.65 hours 4 tabling. Or $5.48/hour clearance rate 4 tabling. Not bad, but I wish I was at higher stakes to clear.

RAKEBACK: I signed up at a site and they haven't been updating totals, so I have no idea where I am at and if it's even worth it. I will keep you posted.

PLAY: In a blog I follow on cardrunners, there is a great quote: "One of the strongest skills a poker player can have is the ability to stay mentally tough and roll with the punches." I was happy with results a few days ago and now I'm in the gutter again. I need to stay focused and mentally tough and keep getting hands in to reach my goal.

DAY 10 - 12/10/06 - BAD BEATS

Today: -$78.20 (Cleared $20 Bonus)
To date: +$21.80
To go: $791.70
Bankroll: $1684.45

832 hands *** 2.32 hours *** -11.80 PTbb/100 *** 18.39/12.02 *** MT:3.82

Well, it was 2nd day of losing streak. Today was Bad Beat Day. Pocket Kongers cracked with Pocket Jacks on river. I smooth called with KK out of SB to make move on flop. I check raise his c-bet and he moves all in and I insta call. Red J on river makes my blood boil.

Another Hand: Flop Nut Straight with Q-10. Board Pairs on turn and I pay off his boat.

Another: AJ vs A7. I float him and raise to take control. He rivs 7 for 2 pair.

DAY 9 - 12/09/06 - I SUCK AT POKER AGAIN!!!

Today: -89.45
To date: +$100.00
To go: 713.00
Bankroll: $1762.65

454 hands *** 1.22 hours *** -19.70 PTbb/100 *** 18.06/12.33 *** MT:3.66


Nothing went right today. Every C-bet getting repopped. Missing flops. Trying to make plays and it was working, but donks would hit 3 outers on river. Had a guy check the nuts to me the whole way when I had 55. He had JJ on J-3-3 board. Idiots.
Shouldn't have played, I didn't feel well.

DAY 8 - 12/08/06

Today: +$24.75
To date: +$189.45
To go: 623.55
Bankroll: $1852.10

397 hands *** 1.17 hours *** 12.34 PTbb/100 *** 16.62/12.09 *** MT:3.50

Won about a buy in today. Was dumb and screwed up numbers a bit. I logged onto Pokerstars and played 400 fpper to 4000. I also played 5 card draw for fun and ended up losing $25 screwing around. I'm not straying from challenge. It makes my spreadsheet differ from blog now. Numbers above include my 5 card draw donk session, but today I really won $49 in challenge.

DAY 7 - 12/07/06

Today: +$13.80 (Cleared $20 Bonus)
To date: +$140.45
To go: 672.55
Bankroll: $1827.35

Didn't play much today. Basically just logged on to clear next $20 bonus increment. Lost $6.20 to get $20.00.

Went to Binny's Beverage Depot this afternoon. Mike Ditka was gonna be there signing his bottles of wine. What a joke that was. Waited in line for 2 hours in 18 degree weather. Ditka shows up 45 mins late. Then he is on his cell phone for a half hour after he got there and didn't sign anything. So it's 7:00 now, and his time slot was 6:00 to 7:30. The store manager comes out and tell us they aren't letting any more people in the store. Donked! So much for cool xmas present to father-in-law who loves the Bears. F Ditka! I'm never buying his wine. Konged by da Coach!

DAY 6 - 12/06/06

Today: +$28.00
To date: +$126.65
To go: 686.35
Bankroll: $1813.55

Total:
773 hands *** 2.40 hours *** 3.08 PTbb/100 *** 18.76/13.32 *** MT:3.78

Played great poker today and hands held up when I put some clowns A.I. Was -$70 at one point and then a few sets held up to flush draws and I was up. Had a good vibe going today in the session. My Pokertracker stats are getting closer to 20/15, and the supertight play in the SB seems to have plugged a leak. Saw some awful players today and it was good not to get Konged by them.

Here is a hand where I folded Aces. When they both smooth called my c-bet, I knew I was dead. There was I time where I woulda gotten stacked but it was easy fold on turn:

Nietzsche907 posts the small blind of $0.25
MJ_GOAT posts the big blind of $0.50
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to ETMprops [As Ah]
Newdale calls $0.50
ETMprops raises to $3
Findwaldonow folds
Zsolti folds
Nietzsche907 calls $2.75
MJ_GOAT calls $2.50
Newdale has 15 seconds left to act
Newdale calls $2.50
*** FLOP *** [7h 7c 4c]
Nietzsche907 checks
MJ_GOAT checks
Newdale checks
ETMprops bets $9
Nietzsche907 calls $9
MJ_GOAT calls $9
Newdale calls $9
*** TURN *** [7h 7c 4c] [4s]
Nietzsche907 checks
MJ_GOAT has 15 seconds left to act
MJ_GOAT bets $18
Newdale has 15 seconds left to act
Newdale raises to $36
ETMprops folds
Nietzsche907 folds
MJ_GOAT raises to $38, and is all in
Newdale calls $2
MJ_GOAT shows [7s 6s]
Newdale shows [2s 4d] <-----Called $3 with 2-4 off, I love it! *** RIVER *** [7h 7c 4c 4s] [7d] MJ_GOAT shows four of a kind, Sevens Newdale shows a full house, Sevens full of Fours MJ_GOAT wins the pot ($121) with four of a kind, Sevens Questionable Played Hands:

#1: I had A-10 on button. 1 limper when it gets to me and I pot it. Limper goes all in for $10 more. Duh. Of course I insta call to see his pocket Kongers (KK).

#2: Pocket 88's in SB. Folded to me, I make it $2 to go. BB repops to 5.50. I raise $8 more to put clown AI. He flips 10's. Too aggro sometimes.

#3: 7-8 sooted LP, Raise and get called by SB and BB. Flop is A-10-4 with 2 of my sooooot. They check to me and I make c-bet. SB calls, BB repops to $8. I put him on A-10. I call, SB calls. Turn card is 5 of hearts, SB checks, BB goes All In for $18.00 into $29.00 pot. I have 13 outer. Pot laying right odds and decide to muck. I think I made wrong move after running %s on Pokertracker and analyzing hand some more.

DAY 5 - 12/05/06 - Afternoon Session

Today overall: -$50.90 +$20 bonus = -$30.90
To date: +$98.65
To go: $714.35
Bankroll: $1786.05

Total today morning & afternoon:
909 hands *** 2.75 hours *** -5.6 PTbb/100 *** 19.03/12.87 *** MT:3.46

Made a good comeback in afternoon. Got to within -$10 for the day and then got coolered. Had 9-10 in BB and flop was J-Q-K. She checks, I bet pot of $1. She mini raises to $2. What do I do? I mini raise to 3! She mini raises me back to 5.50. A-10 flashes thru my mind. Turn is 9. She bets 7 into 12. I raise her $18 more to put her IAI and she turns over A-10. I get too aggr sometimes. Her vip was 42 and PF raise was 2? Calling station donk. Who limps with A-10 in SB when its folded to you?

Few hands later: AQ sooted UTG. Raise to 1.75 and BB calls. Same donk calling station lady. Flop is K-J-2 with 2 of my soot. Gut shot Royale with Cheese draw. She checks and I bet $3 into $4 pot. She makes it 7.50. WTF. Of course I raise back to $25 and put her in again. She has KJ and I miss my 13 outer with 2 cards to come. She apes my and types: all-in on a flush draw huh? I typed 13 outer twice = close to coinflip. Nice call out of position with KJ. 48.1% with 2 to come is still -EV I guess. Same thing happened to me yesterday. I guess it's not a winning play.

So I was -$120 at one point, when I got hot again. Stacked a guy with QQ and got to -30 for the day and quit.

DAY 5 - 12/05/06 - Morning Session

Morning session: -$83.95
To date: +$45.60
To go: $767.00
Bankroll: $1733.00
Total Hands to date: 2300
Total Hours to date: 6.87
BB/100 incl. bonuses: 1.98

414 hands *** 1.35 hours *** -20.28 PTbb/100 *** 20.29/13.77 *** MT:3.22

Started spiraling out of control to TILT land. Hands started getting cracked and c-bets were getting re-raised back it seemed every hand.

DONK PLAY OF THE DAY: Had 9-7 sooted on button. I raise, get repopped by SB to $6. Of course I call like a donk and flop is 5-9-5. He checks to me. My Hyper Aggressive donk nature puts him on 2 big overcards. I bet $8 into $12.50 pot, he smooth calls. DING DING. Turn is a 3. He checks, I bet $16 into $29. He check raises to 41.50 which puts me all in since I have 21.75 left. I tank it and think, and call to see his pocket 9's donk style.

MISTAKE #2: In the middle of downward spiral, and getting played back, I decide to limp with AQs in SB. Dumb. Flop is A-3-3. I check call whole way to lose to 6-3 BB hand. I get cute and get Kramered as usual.

GOOD LAYDOWN HAND????: I will never know. AQ offsuit on button. I raise and get called by SB. Flop is 6-2-A with 2 hearts. He checks, I bet $3 into $4. He calls. Turn card is 3 spade. He checks, I bet $5 into $10. He calls. River card is 7dia. He comes out firing $12 into $20. I folded.

Don't know if I will play afternoon session.

DAY 4 - 12/04/06

Today: +$38.40
To date: +$129.55
To go: $683.05
Bankroll: $1816.95

393 hands *** 1.22 hours *** 9.77 PTbb/100 *** 16.28/12.21 *** MT:3.58

Played a little tight. Need to get VIP around 20. SB VIP was good at 27ish.

Stacked a guy with 10's vs 7's on a 5 high board. Typical donk. Overplayed a set of 9's on the flop 8-9-Q when my c-bet got mini-raised. Took the mentality that I was going to the felt, so I pushed back all-in. He said he folded AQ. Board was to scary to slowplay. Probably could have gotten more $$ out if I called and checked turn, but who knows.

Biggest loser happened with J-10 offsuit on button. Raised and got called by SB. Flop was 10-9-6 with 2 hearts. Made c-bet and got mini-raised. I should have folded right here at this point. How is my hand good? I called his mini raise and another 10 hit on board. Opponent comes out betting this time to $5, and what do I do? I make it $12 hypnotized by my 3 tens. He 3 bets to $19. I am thinking A-10 minimum here. On the river, opponent bets $10 into $54 pot and I call and pay off his pocket 9's for a boat. 3 times alarm bells went off and I didn't listen. I will be a better player someday to learn to lay down hands in that situation.

DAY 3 - 12/03/06

Today: +$22.60 + $20 Bonus = +42.60
To date: +$91.15
To go: $721.45
Bankroll: $1778.55

454 hands *** 1.28 hours *** 4.98 PTbb/100 *** 16.3/12.33 *** MT:3.74

Analyzed stats. Kinda found leak in my game. My SB VIP was up to over 36! I need to get this down around 24 and tighten up in small blind. My goal to be at 20/15 vip/pf raise %.

Made most money with BB special flopping 2 pair against opponent top pair. Calling stationed me down to the end. My hand held. Made a proper laydown with A-10 sooted. Flopped gut shot and flush draw. Called pot sized bet. Missed and layed down to pot size bet on turn. Didn't have enough outs to justify call. Ran it on pokertracker with odds and made correct play. He showed smaller flush draw but had middle pair.

DAY 2 - 12/02/06

Today: +$72.45
To date: +$48.55
To go: $764.05
Bankroll: $1735.95

123 hands *** 0.33 hours *** 58.90PTbb/100 *** 22.76/14.63 *** MT:3.8

Short session. Cracked a set when I flopped 2 pair and filled up on turn. Also had trip JJJ's vs AK gutshot for another stack against agressive player.

DAY 1 - 12/01/06

Today: -$23.90
To date: -23.90
To go: $836.50
Bankroll: $1663.50

916 hands *** 2.68 hours *** -8.91 PTbb/100 *** 19.98/9.17 *** MT: 3.73

Lost a stack when I reraised with 2 pair, and player behind cold called with gut shot and hit on turn. Of course I get it all in close to drawing dead and resist the temptaion to berate the Konger.

PREGAME - Nov 30th, 2006 - Details

After running my bankroll up from $80 about 1.5 years ago to $7500 in August, I lost about 20% in 2 sessions. I was disgusted and withdrew most of my money from my online poker accounts. I used my hard earned money to pay for some things around the house like granite counter tops, and new golf equipment, so I was proud of that. The other incident happened with the passing of a certain bill in Congress. This caused me to take my roll down to $1200 or so. I played $22 and $33 sngs and limit for a while and renewed my desire to play NL cash. I needed to mix things up a little because NL grind was wearing me down. Being a member of cardrunners and reading everyone's blogs and goals, it inspired me to start my own poker blog challenge. I like reading HyperAggroDonk's blog everyday, so I modeled my daily format after his.

So, I have chosen Full Tilt Poker for my bankroll building challenge. I will use bankroll management according to chart below. My starting bankroll is:

$1687.40 (About 34 buyins)

Bankroll rules:
$50 NL: 20 buyins ($1000 bankroll)
$100NL: 25 buyins ($2500 bankroll)
$200NL: 30 buyins ($6000 bankroll)

My first goal will be to move up to the NL $100 level or achieve a $2500 bankroll. I will be updating daily, showing all my numbers. I plan on 4-tabling FTP's 6 man $50NL to start. I must make $813 (about 17 buyins) before I can move up to $100 NL. I can 4-table and get about 370 hands an hour (92h/hour per table) - so I am going to shoot for 400 hands a day for this first level. If I run at 5PT bb/100 then I should reach my goal of $2500 in 16,260 hands or 43.9 hours of 4 tabling. If I average 400 hands per day, this 1st step should take about 41 days.