So at lunch I blast the poker for 20 minutes end up $20 better off.
Played AA aggressively was called all the way to the river by a guy looking for a 9 to make his gutshot. I was pretty sure he was looking for a straight draw so on the turn I bet $7 which was double the pot and virtually all his chips, he calls the 9 falls he pushes in his 90c left I call with AA he types yeeeeeesssss into the chat box. Board was J10 2 8 9 he had 10 7 off which he'd called my raise of 50c with! Grrrrrrr. So I typed lucky boy please continue to call me. Now I don't get involved much in chat but I was well pissed off as that took away my profit so far for this session. But I know the secret of winning patience is your friend so I sat for the next 20 hands, he continued betting everyting chasing his straights and flushes. I had re-loaded back to $10 and had won a few hands and was sitting around $15 when I get JJ. I raised only he called 50c again, flop is all low junk, I bet a dollar he calls turn is Jack whoppee, I bet $7 as in the last hand we played and he calls except this time he's got cash left the river makes me a full house JJJ 44 so I push all-in he calls with 34 off having made trip 4's. Next 2 hands he went all-in and was called each time losing the rest of his cash - hero to zero in 3 hands.
Won well again with AJ against AQ 50c pre-flop, flop 7AJ, I bet out $1 and was called turn A I bet out $3 and was called river makes 3 diamonds out now so I'm thinking my oppo has a flush or KK so I'm all-in and they called, yes they had a diamond, the Q of D's with an Ace. I'm thinking with my aggressive play he must think I have AK, AJ or at least a flush all beating AQ - I think at best my opponent thought the pot split.
Bank Rool £230
Monday, 15 December 2008
Life or Poker
I like to play poker late at night without distaction from the family.
Over the weekend I've had very little time to play perhaps about 1 1/2 hours either way was winning to no complaints.
Between decorating and the good lady wanting some loving I was limited to 2 small sessions on Sunday afternoon and early evening.
Good article about Annie Duke's Boot Camp from Inside Poker basic stuff/tips but worth a read, especially the value of position which very few people take notice of on th 5/10 cents tables. Something I see value in as you can really bully a player who checks, I reckon 7/10 times the raise causes a fold and I win with pretty much anything.
I've identified 4 player who regularly turn up at my level, they are all good players and I often play on tables with them for experience and to watch what they do. They often double very quickly luring fish holding A6 in to pots when the our out-kicked. I'm getting to know their play, for example one will always raise 50c from the small blind if folded round to him, last night I took him on a few times (from the BB) re-raised him pre-flop and bet the flop each time he folded, but I'm guessing if I get re-raised or he goes after me on the flop I'd better fold.
All these guys seem to work much the same preying on weaker and short stacked players, I think a lot of people look at the board and put one opponent on the best hand that can be made especially heads up. These players exploits this and if you watch they always seem to have the ace, straight or flush and people believe them as they have amassed a stack of chips.
One thing they all do is make their plays and if someone comes back very strong they will get out the way, they conserve and save cash as well and they win cash - all round good play. Oh and they don't showdown very often, they want pot closed off well before the river, unless they have a monster.
Major peeve still if the table goes min raise all the way to me in the BB and I have a great hand and raise it 50c why do all the other players then call the bet. What was worth 10c to 5 players now worth an extra 50c and you know even ace may struggle against 5 opponents looking for flushes and straights. Arrh fold please, except one of you with 66, thanks.
Bank Roll $210
Over the weekend I've had very little time to play perhaps about 1 1/2 hours either way was winning to no complaints.
Between decorating and the good lady wanting some loving I was limited to 2 small sessions on Sunday afternoon and early evening.
Good article about Annie Duke's Boot Camp from Inside Poker basic stuff/tips but worth a read, especially the value of position which very few people take notice of on th 5/10 cents tables. Something I see value in as you can really bully a player who checks, I reckon 7/10 times the raise causes a fold and I win with pretty much anything.
I've identified 4 player who regularly turn up at my level, they are all good players and I often play on tables with them for experience and to watch what they do. They often double very quickly luring fish holding A6 in to pots when the our out-kicked. I'm getting to know their play, for example one will always raise 50c from the small blind if folded round to him, last night I took him on a few times (from the BB) re-raised him pre-flop and bet the flop each time he folded, but I'm guessing if I get re-raised or he goes after me on the flop I'd better fold.
All these guys seem to work much the same preying on weaker and short stacked players, I think a lot of people look at the board and put one opponent on the best hand that can be made especially heads up. These players exploits this and if you watch they always seem to have the ace, straight or flush and people believe them as they have amassed a stack of chips.
One thing they all do is make their plays and if someone comes back very strong they will get out the way, they conserve and save cash as well and they win cash - all round good play. Oh and they don't showdown very often, they want pot closed off well before the river, unless they have a monster.
Major peeve still if the table goes min raise all the way to me in the BB and I have a great hand and raise it 50c why do all the other players then call the bet. What was worth 10c to 5 players now worth an extra 50c and you know even ace may struggle against 5 opponents looking for flushes and straights. Arrh fold please, except one of you with 66, thanks.
Bank Roll $210
Friday, 12 December 2008
Aggression Aggression Aggression
While I meet lots of people on the 5/10cents tables who have read about aggressive play by the pro’s, they fail to spot the fact that stone cold bluffs can get you burned, sure pick your spot and flop to get creative with but the board showing 4 spades queen high and the other two players aren’t going away perhaps you shouldn’t be bluffing the Ace spades you don’t have cause I have it and the other guy has the King, perhaps an All-in first to act on the turn wasn’t a good move without a spade in your hand and two other opponents behind you betting a 3 spade flop. Thank you for the pay out.
Aggressiveness alone will not be enough to win as the first time you get called, you will probably get busted. I see this all the time and I’m happy the bet and fold several times as if I’m weak, just waiting for the right hand and when I re-raise you with the nuts you will re-re-raise or go all-in with nothing because you saw the move on late night poker, when I call your money’s gone in one hand.
I have accepted I’m not a great poker player and I often make really stupid decisions even predicting opponent’s hands, very often correctly, and still calling and getting beat, this is my biggest flaw. But what I am learning is how to react to players at the table, who will back down, who will call to the river, who will be tempted by my all-in even though they shouldn’t and who to avoid. If I can just lay down trips if I think I’m beaten then my game would be so much better.
Today’s play has seen me up the bank roll by $35 in a little under 30 minutes. I’m looking at opponents and if they have less than $2 and I think I’m ahead I try and get them committed to the pot and in reality they are looking for a quick double up and will take a gamble heads up. Once you hit $15 at a $10 table you get much respect from 50% of the players leaving you at least two to fuck with and giving you the opportunity to get creative on the button.
Good/bad hands today head to head with 1010 with a flop 10 7 2 all-in from opponent who had JJ I called turn 8 river 9 busted for $9 two hands in.
Limped with QJ suited flop 10 K 3 min opponent bets 50cents and I’m thinking AK or AQ so I call because I have an opened ended straight draw, no flush draw out and if he hits an Ace I rock. Turn was Ace and he goes all-in I called he had AQ river was nothing I win his entire stack. He said I was a luck shit, but I thought I played it perfect as I was away from the hand if an Ace or a 9 don’t come, but was fairly sure the appearance of a Ace would mean he would push some cash in the pot and barring a full house I win.
So after today I’m forgetting about the cards for a while and concentrating on the people, I’m seeing the same regular faces, who I make notes on and most new players act in very few different ways, mostly split in to the he bet the Ace he must have the ace I’m folding now and I’m seeing the flop regardless cause my 92 off might hit which extends to the I’m seeing the river regardless.
Bank Roll $192
Aggressiveness alone will not be enough to win as the first time you get called, you will probably get busted. I see this all the time and I’m happy the bet and fold several times as if I’m weak, just waiting for the right hand and when I re-raise you with the nuts you will re-re-raise or go all-in with nothing because you saw the move on late night poker, when I call your money’s gone in one hand.
I have accepted I’m not a great poker player and I often make really stupid decisions even predicting opponent’s hands, very often correctly, and still calling and getting beat, this is my biggest flaw. But what I am learning is how to react to players at the table, who will back down, who will call to the river, who will be tempted by my all-in even though they shouldn’t and who to avoid. If I can just lay down trips if I think I’m beaten then my game would be so much better.
Today’s play has seen me up the bank roll by $35 in a little under 30 minutes. I’m looking at opponents and if they have less than $2 and I think I’m ahead I try and get them committed to the pot and in reality they are looking for a quick double up and will take a gamble heads up. Once you hit $15 at a $10 table you get much respect from 50% of the players leaving you at least two to fuck with and giving you the opportunity to get creative on the button.
Good/bad hands today head to head with 1010 with a flop 10 7 2 all-in from opponent who had JJ I called turn 8 river 9 busted for $9 two hands in.
Limped with QJ suited flop 10 K 3 min opponent bets 50cents and I’m thinking AK or AQ so I call because I have an opened ended straight draw, no flush draw out and if he hits an Ace I rock. Turn was Ace and he goes all-in I called he had AQ river was nothing I win his entire stack. He said I was a luck shit, but I thought I played it perfect as I was away from the hand if an Ace or a 9 don’t come, but was fairly sure the appearance of a Ace would mean he would push some cash in the pot and barring a full house I win.
So after today I’m forgetting about the cards for a while and concentrating on the people, I’m seeing the same regular faces, who I make notes on and most new players act in very few different ways, mostly split in to the he bet the Ace he must have the ace I’m folding now and I’m seeing the flop regardless cause my 92 off might hit which extends to the I’m seeing the river regardless.
Bank Roll $192
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Focused Play
Was reading some of the articles on Gus Hansen’s website – very good stuff well worth a look through.
Read an article by Gavin Smith how he seeks out small pots raising pre-flop with a wide range of hands and betting the flop 50-75% of the total depending on how he hit, missed or felt about his opponent. I know this was a tournament strategy but I thought it workable. Tried this last night and it worked quite well with most people backing down to a pre-flop aggressor unless they hit strong and in that case I folded at the turn if I felt beaten. Picked up a few good pots with suited connectors hitting flushes, straights and two pairs against a number of players who can’t lay down a pair of aces.
Gus’s blog talks about super/hyper aggressive players going all-in on the flop with nothing or mid/bottom pair. He spoke how he thought this was a strategy but had come to a conclusion it was just gambling on your opponent missing/being weak. He came to the conclusion that a good player will wait and catch you for your stack.
So I got to a table (6 handed $10 buy-in) with 3 players doing this, I was playing super tight and the all-ins were going back and forth winning each others money and re-winning their own round and round it went with hands of 8-10 off calling all-in against 7-J off with a flop of QQK really was coin flips.
So I sat eventually played AK limped and flopped AK7 all-in for $10 from the player first to act I called everyone folded he shows 9-2 suited (wrong suit for the flop). Won another all in playing KQ clubs – flop was 8Q8, turn was Q player goes all-in – I’m thing he has a Q or an 8 so I called. Flips you guessed it 7-5 off and this is the hand he called a raise on the flop with as I tested the strength of my Queen out. He needed to go runner runner to even have a hope, thank you for the double I’m thinking.
Flopped a diamond flush ace high playing A10, min bet the flop next player all-in I called thinking he had trips, lower flush, chasing a draw but again nothing he should be calling with never mind pushing with.
Pretty soon I was $35 up with little effort other than to be patient. Regarding these players they may have thought an all-in would scare others off and to be honest if I had nothing then it would, but these pots were tiny often under a dollar, so why throw $10 at a pot with no cards and a dangerous looking flop. A wise man once said you only get called by a better hand.
Did win a nice 3 way all-in, pre-flop player 1 all in ($5ish) I raise it to more than the 3rd player had hoping to isolate player 1 as I was holding AA. Player 3 calls all-in for his remaining $8. I win player 1 had 88 player 3 had QQ, flop did come KK7 then junk but nice pot to win.
As I had built up significantly more money than every one at the 3 tables I was playing, I started to get aggressive with the smaller stacks, trying to push them all-in when I had really good hands, lot of them bit and I picked up $3/$4 pots some just invested half their $2 in the first two streets and then folded. Having a big pot of cash gives you respect even with some poor players they look and think well he didn’t get doubled or tripled playing junk.
Overall I was winning, but I was playing well, stealing because they were afraid, pushing because I was strong, bullying because I could afford it. Over and over again I bet strongly from the button (5xBB 50cents) got one caller who checked the flop I bet half the pot with anything and they folded. This happened over a dozen times and netted me over $6 for little effort, I was re-raised once and folded as I had missed but hey that’s a good averages.
It’s nice to win and feel you’re playing well, I didn’t always have a great hand just exploited my image at the table to the point where I couldn’t get any action if I raised more than 3xBB.
Bank roll at $155
Read an article by Gavin Smith how he seeks out small pots raising pre-flop with a wide range of hands and betting the flop 50-75% of the total depending on how he hit, missed or felt about his opponent. I know this was a tournament strategy but I thought it workable. Tried this last night and it worked quite well with most people backing down to a pre-flop aggressor unless they hit strong and in that case I folded at the turn if I felt beaten. Picked up a few good pots with suited connectors hitting flushes, straights and two pairs against a number of players who can’t lay down a pair of aces.
Gus’s blog talks about super/hyper aggressive players going all-in on the flop with nothing or mid/bottom pair. He spoke how he thought this was a strategy but had come to a conclusion it was just gambling on your opponent missing/being weak. He came to the conclusion that a good player will wait and catch you for your stack.
So I got to a table (6 handed $10 buy-in) with 3 players doing this, I was playing super tight and the all-ins were going back and forth winning each others money and re-winning their own round and round it went with hands of 8-10 off calling all-in against 7-J off with a flop of QQK really was coin flips.
So I sat eventually played AK limped and flopped AK7 all-in for $10 from the player first to act I called everyone folded he shows 9-2 suited (wrong suit for the flop). Won another all in playing KQ clubs – flop was 8Q8, turn was Q player goes all-in – I’m thing he has a Q or an 8 so I called. Flips you guessed it 7-5 off and this is the hand he called a raise on the flop with as I tested the strength of my Queen out. He needed to go runner runner to even have a hope, thank you for the double I’m thinking.
Flopped a diamond flush ace high playing A10, min bet the flop next player all-in I called thinking he had trips, lower flush, chasing a draw but again nothing he should be calling with never mind pushing with.
Pretty soon I was $35 up with little effort other than to be patient. Regarding these players they may have thought an all-in would scare others off and to be honest if I had nothing then it would, but these pots were tiny often under a dollar, so why throw $10 at a pot with no cards and a dangerous looking flop. A wise man once said you only get called by a better hand.
Did win a nice 3 way all-in, pre-flop player 1 all in ($5ish) I raise it to more than the 3rd player had hoping to isolate player 1 as I was holding AA. Player 3 calls all-in for his remaining $8. I win player 1 had 88 player 3 had QQ, flop did come KK7 then junk but nice pot to win.
As I had built up significantly more money than every one at the 3 tables I was playing, I started to get aggressive with the smaller stacks, trying to push them all-in when I had really good hands, lot of them bit and I picked up $3/$4 pots some just invested half their $2 in the first two streets and then folded. Having a big pot of cash gives you respect even with some poor players they look and think well he didn’t get doubled or tripled playing junk.
Overall I was winning, but I was playing well, stealing because they were afraid, pushing because I was strong, bullying because I could afford it. Over and over again I bet strongly from the button (5xBB 50cents) got one caller who checked the flop I bet half the pot with anything and they folded. This happened over a dozen times and netted me over $6 for little effort, I was re-raised once and folded as I had missed but hey that’s a good averages.
It’s nice to win and feel you’re playing well, I didn’t always have a great hand just exploited my image at the table to the point where I couldn’t get any action if I raised more than 3xBB.
Bank roll at $155
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Time for a Break
Well the losing continued, at one point the bank roll was decimated down to $70. I was playing badly as well getting involved in 3 way all-ins with marginal hands. Poker is a strange game at the level I play most people bet the cards they have or bluff on the river missing a draw, so when I’m focused I do well. Read the books and articles know how to play and win, but still get involved in hands I shouldn’t be chasing. Looking at the bank roll whittling away I decided to have a few days away from poker, read a few articles and watched a few poker programmes on television, gave some thought to whether I was playing for fun or to win. Decided if I want to play for fun then I should stick to $2 buy-in and if I blow off few bucks so be it.
Bank Roll $70
Bank Roll $70
Monday, 8 December 2008
Bang Bang Bang
Well I had a crap weekend, everyone I played seemed to hit their flush, straight even gutshot.
Don't really think I played poorly, at least I don't think but it's hard when you invest heavily in a pot you know you're ahead in and someone rivers their gutshot card.
Lost heavily with JJ flopping a J for trips being called all in by a guy who flips QQ only to hit his trip Q on the turn bang. Also lost an AK suited to a guy playing A9 off with an ace coming on the flop and him hitting the 9 on the river. I'd played this aggressively no flush or straight draws, he had been playing any aces and I'd raise 4x BB pre-flop at worst I'm thinking he has AK as well, we both had $2 left when the river came and he bet all-in I called it A9 for two pair joking to play so hard with a low kicker. I said well played knowing next time you're mine.
I got loose trying to win back some of my loses which was a bad idea, called it quits
Bank roll down to £180
Don't really think I played poorly, at least I don't think but it's hard when you invest heavily in a pot you know you're ahead in and someone rivers their gutshot card.
Lost heavily with JJ flopping a J for trips being called all in by a guy who flips QQ only to hit his trip Q on the turn bang. Also lost an AK suited to a guy playing A9 off with an ace coming on the flop and him hitting the 9 on the river. I'd played this aggressively no flush or straight draws, he had been playing any aces and I'd raise 4x BB pre-flop at worst I'm thinking he has AK as well, we both had $2 left when the river came and he bet all-in I called it A9 for two pair joking to play so hard with a low kicker. I said well played knowing next time you're mine.
I got loose trying to win back some of my loses which was a bad idea, called it quits
Bank roll down to £180
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Cash Out and Exchange Rates
When I started playing I was getting almost $2 to the £1 this was great for paying in.
I hit lucky when I cashed out only costing me $1.60 to the pound.
Theory being if I'd loaded up with £100 ($200) in June then cashed out now I'd have made £25 profit without playing a hand, 25% return - not bad
I hit lucky when I cashed out only costing me $1.60 to the pound.
Theory being if I'd loaded up with £100 ($200) in June then cashed out now I'd have made £25 profit without playing a hand, 25% return - not bad
Returning to the Table
Well I ventured on last night playing 3 tables at $10 buy-ins, my play was tight in fact super tight spent the first 30 minutes with little to show for my efforts. Then the cards started to hit.
Played AJ to a flop of 66J which was checked, turn was J and opponent bet 50cents which I flat called. River a 3 and opponent bets out $1, I think he could have a six and was slow playing the flop so I raise him to put him all-in. At this point I think I made a mistake and should have min re-raised his bet as I’m sure he only calls with a Jack or if I’m super unlucky 66 for his quads. Anyway he calls and mucks the losing hand had to be a 6 but then again I’ve been called with ace high on a 2 x 2 pairs board.
Any how maintained my tight play for the whole session, betting aggressively anything I hit well, nobody took notice of this and I won consistently for the next 1 ½ hours.
Bank Roll at $240
Played AJ to a flop of 66J which was checked, turn was J and opponent bet 50cents which I flat called. River a 3 and opponent bets out $1, I think he could have a six and was slow playing the flop so I raise him to put him all-in. At this point I think I made a mistake and should have min re-raised his bet as I’m sure he only calls with a Jack or if I’m super unlucky 66 for his quads. Anyway he calls and mucks the losing hand had to be a 6 but then again I’ve been called with ace high on a 2 x 2 pairs board.
Any how maintained my tight play for the whole session, betting aggressively anything I hit well, nobody took notice of this and I won consistently for the next 1 ½ hours.
Bank Roll at $240
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Poker a reality check
Well one of my closet friends caught me yesterday, he too plays poker online but at a monetary level way above mine. I can’t say how good a player he is as we have never played against each other, he seemed to think he was pretty good. He’s often talked about winning pots of over $500 and I’ve often joked about him never mentioning his loses. When I think back he never mentioned his loses.
Turns out he’s almost $60,000 in debt, not all but a large amount attributed to poker. He was telling me how it has fucked up his life, he can’t have a telephone line at home, or internet access in case he’s tempted to play. At it’s height he was online 18 hours a day, once he won $12,000 in a weekend and blew it on Monday morning. He’s getting help for his addiction, but it was so sad to see a once confident young man reduced to a quivering hollow left with having to pay almost a $1000 a month to his creditors for the next 6 years.
His story goes started playing for fun was winning, moved up and up to a level he wasn’t capable of playing at or really could afford to play at. Had some initial success and then things went badly wrong he was losing and he was addicted. His play was loser and riskier trying to win back enough to cover his debts. It’s a classic tale of gambling addition and one I’ve taken notice of.
Didn’t play last night, just didn’t feel right.
Turns out he’s almost $60,000 in debt, not all but a large amount attributed to poker. He was telling me how it has fucked up his life, he can’t have a telephone line at home, or internet access in case he’s tempted to play. At it’s height he was online 18 hours a day, once he won $12,000 in a weekend and blew it on Monday morning. He’s getting help for his addiction, but it was so sad to see a once confident young man reduced to a quivering hollow left with having to pay almost a $1000 a month to his creditors for the next 6 years.
His story goes started playing for fun was winning, moved up and up to a level he wasn’t capable of playing at or really could afford to play at. Had some initial success and then things went badly wrong he was losing and he was addicted. His play was loser and riskier trying to win back enough to cover his debts. It’s a classic tale of gambling addition and one I’ve taken notice of.
Didn’t play last night, just didn’t feel right.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Trips the good the bad and the lucky
As per usual my game starts off badly get draw into a fight on a super loose table and blowing my stack quickly, that’s why I play $10 buy-ins. These super loose tables can be profitable but when 3 or 4 players just won’t give up a hand you’re going to get outdraw at times.
I got stuck back in playing solidly winning a lovely pot playing Q5 suited from the big blind with the small blind and I min bet player I checked, flop was QQ5 small blind checks as do I and a bet of 10cents come in, small blind folds I flat call. 3 comes and I check again, bet of 20cents comes I call. River is a 2 I bet 20cents expecting no action and the guy goes all in. I had just under $10 he had around $21 and was playing pretty well overall. I can’t work out what he has to make such a huge bet to win a dollar or so, but hey I can’t be beat so I call. Bang he has pocket 2’s for a full house 222 QQ. Well played he typed into the chat box, unlucky I replied but in reality I was think foolish bet.
Won well flopping a set of 10’s on a flop 3 7 10 no suits, my opponent went all in for his $3.50 I called he had pocket 33’s river and turn come blank and I win again. Then I get done in reverse with trip 7s against trip J’s both flopping our hands but the guy only had $2 to push with.
Have to say I’ve probably lost more money to trips than any other hand, especially low trips. I always seem to have 2 pair and a good two pair aces and another and get bumped by trips. Saying that I’ve won big the other way on many occasions, it’s so hard to see you’re beaten with trips. Meet a lot of players who flop trips with 2 cards coming on the flop and think they are unbeatable even if its trip 5s with a 3 kicker and get the shock of their lives when they get beaten.
Bank roll down at $199
I got stuck back in playing solidly winning a lovely pot playing Q5 suited from the big blind with the small blind and I min bet player I checked, flop was QQ5 small blind checks as do I and a bet of 10cents come in, small blind folds I flat call. 3 comes and I check again, bet of 20cents comes I call. River is a 2 I bet 20cents expecting no action and the guy goes all in. I had just under $10 he had around $21 and was playing pretty well overall. I can’t work out what he has to make such a huge bet to win a dollar or so, but hey I can’t be beat so I call. Bang he has pocket 2’s for a full house 222 QQ. Well played he typed into the chat box, unlucky I replied but in reality I was think foolish bet.
Won well flopping a set of 10’s on a flop 3 7 10 no suits, my opponent went all in for his $3.50 I called he had pocket 33’s river and turn come blank and I win again. Then I get done in reverse with trip 7s against trip J’s both flopping our hands but the guy only had $2 to push with.
Have to say I’ve probably lost more money to trips than any other hand, especially low trips. I always seem to have 2 pair and a good two pair aces and another and get bumped by trips. Saying that I’ve won big the other way on many occasions, it’s so hard to see you’re beaten with trips. Meet a lot of players who flop trips with 2 cards coming on the flop and think they are unbeatable even if its trip 5s with a 3 kicker and get the shock of their lives when they get beaten.
Bank roll down at $199
Monday, 1 December 2008
Poker Pro
I was doing a few hypothetical calculations on poker earnings and you need to turn over surprisingly little to make a living. Here in the UK the average wage for the year is just under £24,000 (about $38,000). To make that amount of money over a working week of 38 hours would mean turning over about $19 per hour, something that multi-tabling 5/10c $10 buy-in table isn’t that hard to do. In fact as poker winnings are tax free you really only need to make $16 an hour to equate to the same level of income. Take out actual expenses involved in working, childcare, travel, insurance, petrol etc. and it looks an interesting prospect.
I guess what’s scary is not having anything to fall back on if things are going badly, would be great to build up 6 months wages and go for it, not that I’d ever have the bottle. One problem or may be a positive thing would be if I had to rely on poker for a living I’d be a rock for sure.
So if you don’t want to be greedy and you’re a decent player perhaps this is an option for you, beats working for a living.
I guess what’s scary is not having anything to fall back on if things are going badly, would be great to build up 6 months wages and go for it, not that I’d ever have the bottle. One problem or may be a positive thing would be if I had to rely on poker for a living I’d be a rock for sure.
So if you don’t want to be greedy and you’re a decent player perhaps this is an option for you, beats working for a living.
Position and I don't me Doggy Style
Right I understand the theory, I’ve read the articles, I’ve played hands and thought, hmm I wish I was betting last. Position is really important to the game, so why do people just ignore it. Sure at the level I play not many players are folding any kind of ace be it under the gun or on the button to these guys A6 is exciting. Don’t get me started with people playing any suited cards 103 for example. I sometimes get drawn in thinking my A9 could be good cause they raise with an ace anything. It pissed me off when I fold a rag ace only to find it was the best hand. But still I know I’m playing better and that when I go against them with my AK’s they will bet a flop even with A2 or A7 hands.
What position means to me is that if I’m not sure where I’m at in a hand being in position gives me the advantage of seeing how others feel about their cards first, I can fold and get away from a hand if betting is strong and I’m not confident, I can big up a weaker hand if everyone’s checking. It puts the pressure on others to make decisions, especially if they have caught part of a flop and are unsure how they stand. Even I can see a weak feeler bet asking is my second pair good and capitalise on the situation.
What position means to me is that if I’m not sure where I’m at in a hand being in position gives me the advantage of seeing how others feel about their cards first, I can fold and get away from a hand if betting is strong and I’m not confident, I can big up a weaker hand if everyone’s checking. It puts the pressure on others to make decisions, especially if they have caught part of a flop and are unsure how they stand. Even I can see a weak feeler bet asking is my second pair good and capitalise on the situation.
Weekend High and Lows
Didn’t get much time to play over the weekend with only about an hour on Saturday, the same Sunday afternoon and a couple hours late Sunday night.
The Saturday session I was rocking, to be honest I got great hand after great hand with people willing to call me, quad aces raise, then I get re-raised all-in they had Full house and I’m storming. Every straight I hit every flush I hit and soon the bank roll was at $220. I called it quits well smug.
Sunday afternoon I started the same chasing every straight and flush draw but this time never hit a bean. My play was getting looser and looser as I tried to re-coup my loses. Kids started coming in the office asking how I was doing, missed a straight draw 10 to A talking to my youngest as I bet hard on my two pair AQ’s and got busted for my stack. Bank roll took a big dip down to below $180 so I stood up and put the kettle on (well the Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine as I’m a tart).
Sunday calmed and focused I got back on about 7.00pm played till just before 9.00pm, steady and tight, may be over cautious but I was winning. No real stand out hands just $1 and $2 wins with the one $5plus got bank roll back up over $200.
Lessons of the weekend:
Patience is a skill, I have played so many times losing $1 here and there sticking to mostly premium hands, folding the rest taking no gambles. This pretty much always pays off as at some point I’ll flop a monster with plenty of callers and bang one hand I double up.
Reload I always reload back to $10 if I dip below, I thinking if a monsters hand comes I want to have max amount of cash to throw at my opponents.
Kids don’t mix well with poker, send them out to play, to bed or to bother their mother.
Luck isn’t skill, skill isn’t luck – nuff said.
So Sunday night worked out ok, I need to control my game a bit more and not chase hands I’m unlikely to hit.
Me and my lady had some seriously good loving as well – hmmm – result.
Bank Roll $204
The Saturday session I was rocking, to be honest I got great hand after great hand with people willing to call me, quad aces raise, then I get re-raised all-in they had Full house and I’m storming. Every straight I hit every flush I hit and soon the bank roll was at $220. I called it quits well smug.
Sunday afternoon I started the same chasing every straight and flush draw but this time never hit a bean. My play was getting looser and looser as I tried to re-coup my loses. Kids started coming in the office asking how I was doing, missed a straight draw 10 to A talking to my youngest as I bet hard on my two pair AQ’s and got busted for my stack. Bank roll took a big dip down to below $180 so I stood up and put the kettle on (well the Dolce Gusto Coffee Machine as I’m a tart).
Sunday calmed and focused I got back on about 7.00pm played till just before 9.00pm, steady and tight, may be over cautious but I was winning. No real stand out hands just $1 and $2 wins with the one $5plus got bank roll back up over $200.
Lessons of the weekend:
Patience is a skill, I have played so many times losing $1 here and there sticking to mostly premium hands, folding the rest taking no gambles. This pretty much always pays off as at some point I’ll flop a monster with plenty of callers and bang one hand I double up.
Reload I always reload back to $10 if I dip below, I thinking if a monsters hand comes I want to have max amount of cash to throw at my opponents.
Kids don’t mix well with poker, send them out to play, to bed or to bother their mother.
Luck isn’t skill, skill isn’t luck – nuff said.
So Sunday night worked out ok, I need to control my game a bit more and not chase hands I’m unlikely to hit.
Me and my lady had some seriously good loving as well – hmmm – result.
Bank Roll $204
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