I wanted today to be a short day since I felt very emotional still from last week. I was not in the mood to grind it out at all...
As I was playing in seat 8, I started chit chatting with one of the regulars who noticed that I win very often. He is a man that we will call Ron (not is real name) that is in his late 50's yet you can tell has been in the gambling business for a long time. When you first see Ron, you can sort of tell that the man was very wealthy at one point in his life...so what was he doing playing 2-4 everyday...
Anyhow, curious to learn a little more about Ron, I asked what he did for a living. He responded by saying that he used to be in the jewelry business but now is retired. Well I thought to myself, that kind of explains it...but I still felt something was missing. So I probed some more and got a little of a response when I asked if he liked betting on sports. He responded by saying its a long story. I joked back by saying "we got a lot of time..."
Its amazing that when decent players notice other decent players, they kind of bond. Well I can tell Ron kind of bonded with me and he proceeded to tell me a pretty lengthy story about how he used to be a big sports better, but soon found out that he can make sure money by taking other peoples bets. He later moved up in the "bookie ladder" and soon was in charge of a major operation in Northern California in the early 90's for about 2 years. The authorities soon caught up with Ron and raided his office. The trial lasted for four years and after Ron made a deal with the DA by giving up some of the bosses (he called them something different that I can't remember), he only got 3 years of probation. The down side was that he lost everything and had 2 felonies attached to his record. The felonies had prevented Ron from getting a decent job and the trial and lawyer fees pretty much ate up his nest egg.
Now, Ron just tries to get by with social security and playing 2-4 to pass time...
Wow what an interesting story!
I ended up getting my aces cracked (which wins $100 today) in the middle of that story and found myself up $98. I played to my button and decided to get take off early. I played my free slots and ended up getting nothing at all...
Back on home I decided to jump on Full Tilt and play a few tourneys:
Full Tilt starting balance - $7.99
I wanted to play some regular SNG today's so I can stay fresh and not rely on the matrix...
$2.25 NL Hold'em SNG 9 players
First NL tourney in a while and it showed. I ended up being too aggressive from probably playing too much limit hold'em at the reservation. Lucky for me, I was able to get it together by the middle of the tourney and finished 2nd for $5.40. Yeah!
$2.25 Omaha High SNG 9 players
Yea, I messed up again and sat in a Omaha high only tourney instead of the hi/lo game I know and love. I actually threw away half my chips on the first hand after I flopped nut low...since nut low does not pay anything in this game 800 of my $1500 chips went bye-bye. I was able to get most of it back, but then when I flopped a set of jacks, and a player goes all-in with a gut shot straight, it was curtains for me as I finished 5th.
Full Tilt Ending balance - $8.87
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Back on Track!
I needed a nice win today for confidence, a healthy mind, and most important a bigger bankroll!
Fortunately for me, I was able to have a decent day today without hitting any of the promos. I ended up making $167 in the 2-4 game which of course is above the $73 projected amount.
The bad news is that the new June schedule came out for the casino and the promotions have changed....for the worse!
Here is June's schedule:
Saturday (stays the same) - splash the pot and $50 high hand
Sunday (stays the same) - Aces cracked wins $100
Monday (stays the same) - except the flush is now for hearts and only pays $75 now versus $125 (bad news) the one card straight flush ($250) and royal flush ($500) pays the same. High hand also is there and pays the same $50
Tuesday - here is the day that changed the most....no more flushes on Tuesday, now you get $200 if you hit a four of a kind of 2's, 4's, 6's, or 8's. If you are on the table with someone that hits the flush you get $20 (that part is cool). Also, high hand of $50 is there...
Wednesday - same as Monday except high spins the wheel which can win $50,$75,$100, or $250.
Thursday (stays the same) - Aces cracked except they added high hand on this day as well that pays $50
Friday (stays the same) - Kings cracked spins the wheel which can win $50,$75,$100, or $250.
This new schedule changes my projections a little....
I still expect to make about $73 Thursday through Sunday...however, now I also expect to make $73 on Tuesday too. Also, Monday and Wednesday, I expect to make only $134.50 versus the $150 I expected to make in May. This brings my expected weekly pay to be only $634 versus the $745 amount in May.
Besides the decrease in pay, I am still seeing this casino as a gold mine and will frequent very often!
Full Tilt Play - Starting balance $8.81
$2.25 Horse SNG Matrix Fixed Limit
Played in the Horse game and ended up only placing in one of the four games in which I finished 1st. I finished in the other tourneys 6th, 5th, and 4th. However, the one 1st win, put me in 3rd for the overall matrix points tourney. I won $2.24 from the win giving me a net loss of $.01.
$2.25 Omaha SNG Matrix PL
Got back to the game I love, yet actually lost money. I ended up finishing last in one of the four tourneys when I flopped the nut straight with a nut low draw and ended up missing the low and losing the hand to a full house when the board paired on the river. The last 3 tourneys I finished 6th, 3rd, and 3rd which game me back a $1.44 for a net loss of $0.81.
Full Tilt ending balance - $7.99
Fortunately for me, I was able to have a decent day today without hitting any of the promos. I ended up making $167 in the 2-4 game which of course is above the $73 projected amount.
The bad news is that the new June schedule came out for the casino and the promotions have changed....for the worse!
Here is June's schedule:
Saturday (stays the same) - splash the pot and $50 high hand
Sunday (stays the same) - Aces cracked wins $100
Monday (stays the same) - except the flush is now for hearts and only pays $75 now versus $125 (bad news) the one card straight flush ($250) and royal flush ($500) pays the same. High hand also is there and pays the same $50
Tuesday - here is the day that changed the most....no more flushes on Tuesday, now you get $200 if you hit a four of a kind of 2's, 4's, 6's, or 8's. If you are on the table with someone that hits the flush you get $20 (that part is cool). Also, high hand of $50 is there...
Wednesday - same as Monday except high spins the wheel which can win $50,$75,$100, or $250.
Thursday (stays the same) - Aces cracked except they added high hand on this day as well that pays $50
Friday (stays the same) - Kings cracked spins the wheel which can win $50,$75,$100, or $250.
This new schedule changes my projections a little....
I still expect to make about $73 Thursday through Sunday...however, now I also expect to make $73 on Tuesday too. Also, Monday and Wednesday, I expect to make only $134.50 versus the $150 I expected to make in May. This brings my expected weekly pay to be only $634 versus the $745 amount in May.
Besides the decrease in pay, I am still seeing this casino as a gold mine and will frequent very often!
Full Tilt Play - Starting balance $8.81
$2.25 Horse SNG Matrix Fixed Limit
Played in the Horse game and ended up only placing in one of the four games in which I finished 1st. I finished in the other tourneys 6th, 5th, and 4th. However, the one 1st win, put me in 3rd for the overall matrix points tourney. I won $2.24 from the win giving me a net loss of $.01.
$2.25 Omaha SNG Matrix PL
Got back to the game I love, yet actually lost money. I ended up finishing last in one of the four tourneys when I flopped the nut straight with a nut low draw and ended up missing the low and losing the hand to a full house when the board paired on the river. The last 3 tourneys I finished 6th, 3rd, and 3rd which game me back a $1.44 for a net loss of $0.81.
Full Tilt ending balance - $7.99
Friday, May 29, 2009
Bankroll Malfunction
So after only 3 weeks on this bankroll building project, I have completely malfunctioned! I am so embarrassed I did not even want to write about it!
After playing many hours on Tuesday, I was completely antsy and bored. I ended up pushing most of my hands in the 2-4 game and found myself down about $70 in a hurry. I then walked over to Blackjack (big no no) very frustrated and lost $100 very quickly. I took the 6pm bus home and decided to jump to another casino in a 4-8 Omaha Hi/Low game. After an hour of decent (not good) play, I took a couple of bad beats and lost my head. I blew through almost $500 in a small game which is completely unheard of for me. Losing more than $200 would be considered devastating for me...
I take Wednesday off and and play in a 4-8 Hold'em game at another casino and lose another $100 plus...
Trying to stay composed, I force myself on Friday to go to the Indian Reservation Casino and play for only 2 1/2 hours and win $33. I decided to leave early to rest my mind and watch a movie with a buddy. I go meet my buddy at a local casino where I had to wait about 2 hours for him. I decide to jump in a 2-2 NL Hold'em game and lose $113!
I wasn't kidding when I said I made a bankroll malfunction!
Obviously my problem was making the first bad decision by playing blackjack on Tuesday. I was tired and burnt out and should have only lost the $70 in the 2-4 game and called it a day....after the first bad decision I really went on tilt and broke my rule of playing a bigger game without the proper bankroll and played very bad!! The other losses were all in consequence to that initial bad decision...
These choices may have ruined my project. These bad decisions have dwindled my bankroll down to $200. Without the 4-8 Omaha, Hold'em, No Limit, and blackjack play I would have been on par with my weekly estimations. I ended up making $15 in casino points, $127 in the free slot play, $250 in promotions, and $188 in the 2-4 holdem play. I lost a total of $855 in the bad play and loaned my personal account $550.
I just hope I can get back in focus for the start of my 4th week!
I decided to get on Full Tilt and play a tourney: Starting bankroll $6.26
$2.25 Horse SNG Matrix fixed limit:
I decided to stay with what is working for me on full tilt and played a Horse SNG Matrix Tournament. I ended up getting 1st in two game and 4th in the other two which eventually won me 1st for the matrix points tournament. The total win gave me $4.80.
Ending bankroll - $8.81. Basically right back where I started out initially.
After playing many hours on Tuesday, I was completely antsy and bored. I ended up pushing most of my hands in the 2-4 game and found myself down about $70 in a hurry. I then walked over to Blackjack (big no no) very frustrated and lost $100 very quickly. I took the 6pm bus home and decided to jump to another casino in a 4-8 Omaha Hi/Low game. After an hour of decent (not good) play, I took a couple of bad beats and lost my head. I blew through almost $500 in a small game which is completely unheard of for me. Losing more than $200 would be considered devastating for me...
I take Wednesday off and and play in a 4-8 Hold'em game at another casino and lose another $100 plus...
Trying to stay composed, I force myself on Friday to go to the Indian Reservation Casino and play for only 2 1/2 hours and win $33. I decided to leave early to rest my mind and watch a movie with a buddy. I go meet my buddy at a local casino where I had to wait about 2 hours for him. I decide to jump in a 2-2 NL Hold'em game and lose $113!
I wasn't kidding when I said I made a bankroll malfunction!
Obviously my problem was making the first bad decision by playing blackjack on Tuesday. I was tired and burnt out and should have only lost the $70 in the 2-4 game and called it a day....after the first bad decision I really went on tilt and broke my rule of playing a bigger game without the proper bankroll and played very bad!! The other losses were all in consequence to that initial bad decision...
These choices may have ruined my project. These bad decisions have dwindled my bankroll down to $200. Without the 4-8 Omaha, Hold'em, No Limit, and blackjack play I would have been on par with my weekly estimations. I ended up making $15 in casino points, $127 in the free slot play, $250 in promotions, and $188 in the 2-4 holdem play. I lost a total of $855 in the bad play and loaned my personal account $550.
I just hope I can get back in focus for the start of my 4th week!
I decided to get on Full Tilt and play a tourney: Starting bankroll $6.26
$2.25 Horse SNG Matrix fixed limit:
I decided to stay with what is working for me on full tilt and played a Horse SNG Matrix Tournament. I ended up getting 1st in two game and 4th in the other two which eventually won me 1st for the matrix points tournament. The total win gave me $4.80.
Ending bankroll - $8.81. Basically right back where I started out initially.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Back on Full Tilt
Since playing live takes so much of my time and is so much profitable for me, I have neglected the Full Tilt project a bit. Anyhow, I found time to play a couple of tourneys tonight and this is how I did:
With a little rake back my full tilt balance started at $4.09
Holdem NL Matrix Tourney buy-in $2.25
While I really wanted to play the Omaha Hi/Lo Matrix tourney, no games were available. So I played the NL Holdem game instead and ended up only placing in one of the four tourney in which I got 1st place and $1.80 returned to me.
Horse Fixed Limit Matrix Tourney buy-in $2.25
I found a Horse Matrix tourney and decided that it may be a good fit for me. Sure enough I placed in all four tourneys taking 3rd in one, 2nd in two games, and 1st in another game. The wins also gave me 3rd in the overall matrix prize pool. I ended up winning $4.80.
Full Tilt Ending balance: $6.19
With a little rake back my full tilt balance started at $4.09
Holdem NL Matrix Tourney buy-in $2.25
While I really wanted to play the Omaha Hi/Lo Matrix tourney, no games were available. So I played the NL Holdem game instead and ended up only placing in one of the four tourney in which I got 1st place and $1.80 returned to me.
Horse Fixed Limit Matrix Tourney buy-in $2.25
I found a Horse Matrix tourney and decided that it may be a good fit for me. Sure enough I placed in all four tourneys taking 3rd in one, 2nd in two games, and 1st in another game. The wins also gave me 3rd in the overall matrix prize pool. I ended up winning $4.80.
Full Tilt Ending balance: $6.19
The Busdriver is a jerk!
So as a refresher, I take a 45 minute charter bus from my city to the Indian reservation casino every day. I take this bus to save money on gas and get the free perks like a free buffet and $10 in free slot play. There are three bustops that the bus picks up and drops off every day at different times.
Well I get on the first stop when we get picked up and the last stop when we get dropped off. Today, for some reason, going home the bus driver decides that since I am the only one that was going to get dropped off at the last stop, he was not going to take me there. He told me to get off and did not care that my car was at the other stop. I pleaded with the guy, and he basically told me he did not care. Lucky for me, an older gentlemen who I have befriended, saw my argument and waited for me to get off the bus and take me home! However, I don't know how to handle the situation with the bus driver...I know he his well known for trying to extract tips from his passengers...
Anyhow, I started today's long 10 hour day by hitting two Ace high spade flushes that paid $125/each. I then won $89 from my free slot play! My biggest slot play win yet! I ended up however, losing in the game $47 in which I am pretty disappointed.
Well I get on the first stop when we get picked up and the last stop when we get dropped off. Today, for some reason, going home the bus driver decides that since I am the only one that was going to get dropped off at the last stop, he was not going to take me there. He told me to get off and did not care that my car was at the other stop. I pleaded with the guy, and he basically told me he did not care. Lucky for me, an older gentlemen who I have befriended, saw my argument and waited for me to get off the bus and take me home! However, I don't know how to handle the situation with the bus driver...I know he his well known for trying to extract tips from his passengers...
Anyhow, I started today's long 10 hour day by hitting two Ace high spade flushes that paid $125/each. I then won $89 from my free slot play! My biggest slot play win yet! I ended up however, losing in the game $47 in which I am pretty disappointed.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Proper Bankroll Limits
So my friend Clarence came into town on Saturday and I took him up to the Casino to show him the ropes. Boy was he impressed...too bad he lives over 4 hours away. However, after he hit two promotions and walked out a $235 winner, he maybe moving nearby soon! As for me, I earned $26 from my free slot play and made $74 on the 2-4 table for a total profit of $100.
On Sunday, I started the day real slow losing $75 by lunch time. After eating my free buffet, I got on a little rush winning a big pot with seven's full. I ended up finishing the day up $121 from poker and making $9.50 with my free slot play. So far everything is right on schedule!
As my poker bankroll builds, I started wondering what would be next... When do I move up in limits and when should I move down... So I made a little chart for myself based on these three general bankroll principles: 1) My bankroll in limit games should be 300 to 500 BB (Big Bets) 2) For N0-Limit game my bankroll should support 25 to 40 buy-ins 3) For tournaments, my bankroll should support 30 to 50 buy-ins.
This is what I got:
Limit Hold'em
$0 - $1799 play 2-4 Hold'em
$1800 - $3000 play 3-6 Hold'em and move back down to 2-4 when BR goes to $1200
$2400 - $4000 play 4-8 Hold'em and move back down to 3-6 when BR goes to $1800
$3600 - $6000 play 6-12 Hold'em and move back down to 4-8 when BR goes to $2400
$6000 - $10000 play 10-20 Hold'em and move back down to 6-12 when BR goes to $3600
$9000 - $15000 play 15-30 Holdem and move back down to 10-20 when BR goes to $6000
$12000-$20000 play 20-40 Hold'em and move back down to 15-30 when BR goes to $9000
$18000 - $30000 play 30-60 Hold'em and move back down to 20-40 when BR goes to $12000
$24000-$40000 play 40-80 Hold'em and move back down to 30-60 when BR goes $18000
$36000-$60000 play 60-120 Hold'em and move back down to 40-40 when BR goes to $24000
$6000-$100000 play 100-200 Hold'em and move back down to 60-120 when BR goes to $36K
No Limit Hold'em
$2500-$4000 play 1-2 or 2-2 NL Hold'em and stop when BR moves down to $1800
$5000-$8000 play 1-3 NL Holdem and move down when BR is $2500
$7500-$12000 play 2-5 NL Holdem and move down when BR is $5000
$12500-$25000 play 5-10 NL Holdem and move down when BR is $7500
Tournaments
$1200-$2000 play $40 Tourneys and stop when BR is $1000
$1500-$2500 play $50 Tourney and move down when BR is $1200
$2250-$3750 play $75 Tourneys and move down when BR is $1500
$3000-$5000 play $100 Tourneys and move down when BR is $2250
$4500-$7500 play $150 Tourneys and move down when BR is $3000
$6000-$1000 play $200 Tourneys and move down when BR is $4500
$9000-$15000 play $300 Tourneys and move down when BR is $6000
$15000-$25000 play $500 Tourneys and move down when BR is $9000
$30000-$50000 play $1000 Tourneys and move down when BR is $15000
$60000-$100000 play $2000 Tourneys and move down when BR is $30000
$150000-$250000 play $5000 Tourneys and move down when BR is $60000
$300000-$500000 play $10000 Tourneys and move down when BR is $150000
A lot to shoot for, but with patience, discipline, skill, and some luck, we may just get there!
On Sunday, I started the day real slow losing $75 by lunch time. After eating my free buffet, I got on a little rush winning a big pot with seven's full. I ended up finishing the day up $121 from poker and making $9.50 with my free slot play. So far everything is right on schedule!
As my poker bankroll builds, I started wondering what would be next... When do I move up in limits and when should I move down... So I made a little chart for myself based on these three general bankroll principles: 1) My bankroll in limit games should be 300 to 500 BB (Big Bets) 2) For N0-Limit game my bankroll should support 25 to 40 buy-ins 3) For tournaments, my bankroll should support 30 to 50 buy-ins.
This is what I got:
Limit Hold'em
$0 - $1799 play 2-4 Hold'em
$1800 - $3000 play 3-6 Hold'em and move back down to 2-4 when BR goes to $1200
$2400 - $4000 play 4-8 Hold'em and move back down to 3-6 when BR goes to $1800
$3600 - $6000 play 6-12 Hold'em and move back down to 4-8 when BR goes to $2400
$6000 - $10000 play 10-20 Hold'em and move back down to 6-12 when BR goes to $3600
$9000 - $15000 play 15-30 Holdem and move back down to 10-20 when BR goes to $6000
$12000-$20000 play 20-40 Hold'em and move back down to 15-30 when BR goes to $9000
$18000 - $30000 play 30-60 Hold'em and move back down to 20-40 when BR goes to $12000
$24000-$40000 play 40-80 Hold'em and move back down to 30-60 when BR goes $18000
$36000-$60000 play 60-120 Hold'em and move back down to 40-40 when BR goes to $24000
$6000-$100000 play 100-200 Hold'em and move back down to 60-120 when BR goes to $36K
No Limit Hold'em
$2500-$4000 play 1-2 or 2-2 NL Hold'em and stop when BR moves down to $1800
$5000-$8000 play 1-3 NL Holdem and move down when BR is $2500
$7500-$12000 play 2-5 NL Holdem and move down when BR is $5000
$12500-$25000 play 5-10 NL Holdem and move down when BR is $7500
Tournaments
$1200-$2000 play $40 Tourneys and stop when BR is $1000
$1500-$2500 play $50 Tourney and move down when BR is $1200
$2250-$3750 play $75 Tourneys and move down when BR is $1500
$3000-$5000 play $100 Tourneys and move down when BR is $2250
$4500-$7500 play $150 Tourneys and move down when BR is $3000
$6000-$1000 play $200 Tourneys and move down when BR is $4500
$9000-$15000 play $300 Tourneys and move down when BR is $6000
$15000-$25000 play $500 Tourneys and move down when BR is $9000
$30000-$50000 play $1000 Tourneys and move down when BR is $15000
$60000-$100000 play $2000 Tourneys and move down when BR is $30000
$150000-$250000 play $5000 Tourneys and move down when BR is $60000
$300000-$500000 play $10000 Tourneys and move down when BR is $150000
A lot to shoot for, but with patience, discipline, skill, and some luck, we may just get there!
Friday, May 22, 2009
End of Week 2!
I knew today would be another short day (which I need) since my car was in the shop and needed to be picked up about 3pm. So I went to the casino, played the free slots (made $9) and started playing my favorite 2-4 game. Today's promotion is Kings cracked gets to spin the wheel and can win either $50, $75, $100, or $250. My 6th hand of the day was pocket kings and I was thinking the promotion gods love me this week. Unfortunately for me, the Kings held up and I dragged a small pot. That also was the last pot that I would drag for the day. I ended up playing 2 hours total and lost $63 on the day for a total loss of $53 for the day.
Week 2 was a great week as I won a total of $1,178 in 38 hours of play! Not bad for a 2-4 game. I made $58 from the free slot play, $675 in promotions (wow!), $451 in poker play, and $19 in the casino points. Again my goal every week is $746.50.
I have used the extra money to increase my bankroll to $1,050. The average bankroll most will recommend for a 2-4 game is $1,200 (300 big bets), so it looks like my bankroll is still a little light but I am doing great in building away!
I will take the extra rest today and relax...then get on the saddle tomorrow to start another great week!
Week 2 was a great week as I won a total of $1,178 in 38 hours of play! Not bad for a 2-4 game. I made $58 from the free slot play, $675 in promotions (wow!), $451 in poker play, and $19 in the casino points. Again my goal every week is $746.50.
I have used the extra money to increase my bankroll to $1,050. The average bankroll most will recommend for a 2-4 game is $1,200 (300 big bets), so it looks like my bankroll is still a little light but I am doing great in building away!
I will take the extra rest today and relax...then get on the saddle tomorrow to start another great week!
Hit and Run!
Tired of playing long hours, I had planned to take off early if I can get ahead any type of decent amount in the game on Thursday. Lucky for me, the cards ran all over me. On the fourth hand of the day, I get my aces cracked and win $100. I then get pocket fives and flop trips and a big pot! Within the first hour I end up being ahead $220 and decide to pack it in and leave! I make another $12 in the free slot play and add money to a great week!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Big Day!
Coming into the middle of the week, I hit a tough loss on Tuesday. I started the day on fire and was up $150. After about 6 and half hours of play I go into a slump and start getting a few bad beats. Tired from playing back to back long sessions, the bad beats somehow eat me up and I overplay the next few hands taking my winnings down to only $40. I decide to take a dinner break to refresh my mind. When I come back, I get trips, two pair, and a flopped flush all beat in the matter of 15 minutes. I play a bit longer with no change and decided to call it a night losing a total of $43 for the day.
It was tough from being a decent winner to a loser. Although, some of the bad beats could not be prevented, my tilt factor could have. By not resting enough or taking breaks, bad beats were getting to me and my unstable (tired) emotions were set-off. The lesson for me here is to make sure I take as many breaks as I need to play good poker with very little tilt in me.
The next day, I start on fire again! I end up hitting three Ace high spade flushes which pay a bonus of $125/each. I also end up winning $220 in the game and never looking back for a total of $600 winner for the day including the free slot play promotion. Again, the important lesson here is to understand that as long as I can eliminate the tilt, I will eventully will win and make up for my losses.
So far I am up $998 for the week which is way above schedule ($750) with two days still remaining this week!
It was tough from being a decent winner to a loser. Although, some of the bad beats could not be prevented, my tilt factor could have. By not resting enough or taking breaks, bad beats were getting to me and my unstable (tired) emotions were set-off. The lesson for me here is to make sure I take as many breaks as I need to play good poker with very little tilt in me.
The next day, I start on fire again! I end up hitting three Ace high spade flushes which pay a bonus of $125/each. I also end up winning $220 in the game and never looking back for a total of $600 winner for the day including the free slot play promotion. Again, the important lesson here is to understand that as long as I can eliminate the tilt, I will eventully will win and make up for my losses.
So far I am up $998 for the week which is way above schedule ($750) with two days still remaining this week!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Internet is back!
I made a temporary move this past week and in consequence, was without Internet connection! After, a few days of darkness, the Internet is back as well as my poker bankroll!
To give an update, since I have not had any Internet connection I have not played on Full Tilt at all. However, I have been sticking solid to my Indian Reservation plan!
For the week of May 9th-May 15th I played a total of 60 hours of 2-4 hold'em. I made $30.50 from the casino point system where they pay you 50 cents an hour. I made $62.35 from the free slot machine play. I made $525 from the casino poker promotions and only made $33 from actually playing. I made a total of $650 for the week! Which was $95 off the target. This was mainly due to not winning much from the live play.
The lesson learned was that I was playing way too aggressive for the game. This resulted in me burning chips at a faster rate then winning them back. I have noted this and will make adjustments from now on.
So far into the 2nd week from Saturday to Monday I have made a total of $441 which is about $140 above pace for the targeted $745 a week pay.
I will hopefully be able to give you more frequent updates as I am now connected to the Internet again!
To give an update, since I have not had any Internet connection I have not played on Full Tilt at all. However, I have been sticking solid to my Indian Reservation plan!
For the week of May 9th-May 15th I played a total of 60 hours of 2-4 hold'em. I made $30.50 from the casino point system where they pay you 50 cents an hour. I made $62.35 from the free slot machine play. I made $525 from the casino poker promotions and only made $33 from actually playing. I made a total of $650 for the week! Which was $95 off the target. This was mainly due to not winning much from the live play.
The lesson learned was that I was playing way too aggressive for the game. This resulted in me burning chips at a faster rate then winning them back. I have noted this and will make adjustments from now on.
So far into the 2nd week from Saturday to Monday I have made a total of $441 which is about $140 above pace for the targeted $745 a week pay.
I will hopefully be able to give you more frequent updates as I am now connected to the Internet again!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Too Many Hands!
So on Saturday, May 9th, I went up on the bus to the Indian Reservation casino to try and put my plan in motion!
I get to the casino and put my name on for the 2-4 holdem list. While waiting, I play my free $10 slot play. I end up playing a 2 cent machine at 80 cents a spin. I calculate that I have 12 spins and 1 spin at 40 cents. I go through my 12 spins and wind up with $5.60 left in the account. I cash out and already am up for the day!
I get in the 2-4 game and play for 3 hours with my stack moving up and down around the even mark. The promotion for the day is a $50 high hand every hour and splash pot. The splash pot works by the floor man randomly selecting a table, spinning a wheel that determines how much they will give away (either $50, $75, $100 or $250), and the money being placed in the pot of the next hand for the table that was chosen. During my first three hours of play my table was selected all 3 times. The first two times it was chosen I ended up not being able to see past the flop. The third time, however, I wake up with A-K. In 3rd position, I raise the pot. The player on my left ( who is a very aggressive player) re raises the pot. I loved the raise, because I believe that he is raising just to limit the field. The raise was unsuccessful because everyone still called. The flop comes K-Q-7 in different suites. The action gets checked to me and I bet. The player to my left raises and the button calls. I re raise and the player to my left caps the bets with the button calling. The turn is a King! I again bet, and the player to my left raises. I am thinking that the raiser must have a king with a lower kicker. The button calls and I re raise with the raiser capping the bet again and the button still calling. The river hits an Ace. Bingo! Full house! However, I didn't think I needed it. I bet the raiser raises, the button calls, I re raise, and everyone else just calls. Turns out the raiser had pocket sevens and the button had A-Q. I take down the pot and am suddenly up $200! About 15 minutes later my Kings full of Aces win the high hand and I am rewarded the $50.
In a 2-4 game the game really is no fold'em hold'em. After a few hours of random bad beats, I really started to notice that I was playing many more hands and playing them very aggressively. However, the 2-4 hold'em crowd did not respect any of my raises and I ended up losing most of my winnings.
I ended up cashing out $45 winner for the day. That's right, I lost $200 back in a 2-4 game!! With the slot money and player hours reward (50 cents an hour), I ended up making $54 for the day. About $19 than I estimated which is not that bad. What was bad was that I was playing too many hands and really fell into the trap playing like my competition.
On the way home during the bus ride, I promised myself that the next day I will make some adjustments!
Total win for the day = $54
I get to the casino and put my name on for the 2-4 holdem list. While waiting, I play my free $10 slot play. I end up playing a 2 cent machine at 80 cents a spin. I calculate that I have 12 spins and 1 spin at 40 cents. I go through my 12 spins and wind up with $5.60 left in the account. I cash out and already am up for the day!
I get in the 2-4 game and play for 3 hours with my stack moving up and down around the even mark. The promotion for the day is a $50 high hand every hour and splash pot. The splash pot works by the floor man randomly selecting a table, spinning a wheel that determines how much they will give away (either $50, $75, $100 or $250), and the money being placed in the pot of the next hand for the table that was chosen. During my first three hours of play my table was selected all 3 times. The first two times it was chosen I ended up not being able to see past the flop. The third time, however, I wake up with A-K. In 3rd position, I raise the pot. The player on my left ( who is a very aggressive player) re raises the pot. I loved the raise, because I believe that he is raising just to limit the field. The raise was unsuccessful because everyone still called. The flop comes K-Q-7 in different suites. The action gets checked to me and I bet. The player to my left raises and the button calls. I re raise and the player to my left caps the bets with the button calling. The turn is a King! I again bet, and the player to my left raises. I am thinking that the raiser must have a king with a lower kicker. The button calls and I re raise with the raiser capping the bet again and the button still calling. The river hits an Ace. Bingo! Full house! However, I didn't think I needed it. I bet the raiser raises, the button calls, I re raise, and everyone else just calls. Turns out the raiser had pocket sevens and the button had A-Q. I take down the pot and am suddenly up $200! About 15 minutes later my Kings full of Aces win the high hand and I am rewarded the $50.
In a 2-4 game the game really is no fold'em hold'em. After a few hours of random bad beats, I really started to notice that I was playing many more hands and playing them very aggressively. However, the 2-4 hold'em crowd did not respect any of my raises and I ended up losing most of my winnings.
I ended up cashing out $45 winner for the day. That's right, I lost $200 back in a 2-4 game!! With the slot money and player hours reward (50 cents an hour), I ended up making $54 for the day. About $19 than I estimated which is not that bad. What was bad was that I was playing too many hands and really fell into the trap playing like my competition.
On the way home during the bus ride, I promised myself that the next day I will make some adjustments!
Total win for the day = $54
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Matrix
After a long session the other day and ending up on a low note, it took me some time to get back on the horse and play on full tilt again.
Anyhow, with only $3.21 left, I decided to wait and play the one game that I have been profitable every time at--the Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG Matrix with a $2.25 buy in.
The matrix is basically for one buy in you play 4 games simultaneously with the same 8 other players. There is a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize for every game you play and then a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize for the best overall players in the tourney. The one exception is if a player get 1st in all 4 games they take the whole prize pool.
This type of tourney seems to fit me best when playing with a low bankroll since having 4 games should reduce my risk of "bad luck".
Full Tilt starting bankroll - $3.21
Omaha Hi/Lo PL Sng Matrix - $2.25 buy in
After waiting almost an hour for a game gets started I am finally in action. In all 4 games I pretty much am card dead....I finally double up in one game but end of finishing 5th in 3 of the 4 games. The last game I end up going on a rush and get 1st pretty easy. I also finish 2nd in the overall section making this my 3rd straight profitable Omaha Hi/Low PL SNG Matrix tourney!
Full tilt end balance - $3.84
Anyhow, with only $3.21 left, I decided to wait and play the one game that I have been profitable every time at--the Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG Matrix with a $2.25 buy in.
The matrix is basically for one buy in you play 4 games simultaneously with the same 8 other players. There is a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize for every game you play and then a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize for the best overall players in the tourney. The one exception is if a player get 1st in all 4 games they take the whole prize pool.
This type of tourney seems to fit me best when playing with a low bankroll since having 4 games should reduce my risk of "bad luck".
Full Tilt starting bankroll - $3.21
Omaha Hi/Lo PL Sng Matrix - $2.25 buy in
After waiting almost an hour for a game gets started I am finally in action. In all 4 games I pretty much am card dead....I finally double up in one game but end of finishing 5th in 3 of the 4 games. The last game I end up going on a rush and get 1st pretty easy. I also finish 2nd in the overall section making this my 3rd straight profitable Omaha Hi/Low PL SNG Matrix tourney!
Full tilt end balance - $3.84
The Indian Reservation Plan
I envisioned this bankroll to get started by only playing online...however after visiting a near-by Indian Reservation casino I have changed my view....
A couple of days ago I received an unexpected check from one of my earlier endeavors for a little over $200 and decided that I would use that to be the starting point for my offline poker bankroll...but where do I play?
Well it turns out that there is this Indian Reservation Casino that provides buses to my city and will pick us up, drive the 45 minutes to the Casino, and later that night drop us back off...great! However, would it be worth going up there??
Yes! And here is why:
1) They mostly only play 2-4 Limit Hold'em that works well with my bankroll
2) The players in these game are mostly very bad players (which I have found out)
3) The casino pays you 50 cents an hour on your players card
4) Free buffet for all bus riders (after you play an half an hours of poker for that day)
5) Free $10 in slot play for the next day you play ( after you play 2 hours of poker)
6) Great promotions: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday they give out $125 for every ace high spade flush, and $50 high hand every hour...with an average of 2-4 tables in the room this works well...they also pay $250 for a one card straight spade flush, and $500 for a one card spade Royal flush on these days...Thursday and Sunday are aces cracked wins a $100....Friday is Kings cracked gets to spin a wheel....the wheel consist of 24 spots...7 are $50...8 are $75...8 are $100...and the final spot is $250.....and Saturdays is high hand pays $50 every hour and every hour they will chose a table and add $50 to the pot of the next hand....other regular promotions every day is Royal flush (any suit) pays $250 and a bad beat jackpot (four of a kind beat) starts at $10,000 and grows $200/day.
7) If you play 50 hours in a month you get a free entry into an end of the month tournament that has a prize pool of $5,000 and usually averages 4-5 tables!
So after taking all this information...I analyzed the potential and decided to make a schedule for myself if I was come up here regularly....
First lets break down the profit potential:
A 2-4 game should bring a decent player about $6/hour according to most poker experts...I figure this number to be a bit conservative due to the level of the players at the casino, but I will roll with this number...
We are already getting paid $.50 cents an hour
We get $10 in slot play....with say a 90% payback on slots (might be a bit aggressive) we should net $9 ($10 X 90%) back on our slot play...this is considering that we play the free money and once the free money is expired.....whatever is left we cash out....no exceptions!
On estimating the worth of the promotions....we would say that considering the high hands and aces cracked promotions we should hit one every 2 days (playing 6 hours or more a day) which we will estimate to be worth a low $25/day
On estimating the worth of the spades promotions....we will make an initial estimate that we will hit a ace high spade flush once every 2 days of play as well (based on 10 hours a day of play) which would be worth $62.50/day
Now to the schedule: the bus picks up every morning at 9:15am and leaves the casino at 1:15, 6:00, or 11:00...since 2 and 1/2 hours is not enough play in a day we would usually come back on the 6 o'clock bus which would translate to about 6 hours of poker play with considering waiting list time and break time for lunch...however since the Monday through Wednesday promotions are so good we will at least at the start stay all the way to the 11 o'clock bus which would translate to about 10 hours of poker play with considering wait list time and break time for lunch and dinner...
With all this information this is what the schedule and profitability should look like:
Sunday: 6 hours of poker play to make $73
Monday: 10 hours of poker play to make $151.50
Tuesday: 10 hours of poker play to make $151.50
Wednesday: 10 hours of poker play to make $151.50
Thursday: 6 hours of poker play to make $73
Friday: 6 hours of poker play to make $73
Saturday: 6 hours of poker play to make $73
For a weekly earnings of $746.50 with 20% of weekly earning being used to build bankroll
Will need to get things situated on the home front but will put the plan in motion starting Sunday!
Take care!
A couple of days ago I received an unexpected check from one of my earlier endeavors for a little over $200 and decided that I would use that to be the starting point for my offline poker bankroll...but where do I play?
Well it turns out that there is this Indian Reservation Casino that provides buses to my city and will pick us up, drive the 45 minutes to the Casino, and later that night drop us back off...great! However, would it be worth going up there??
Yes! And here is why:
1) They mostly only play 2-4 Limit Hold'em that works well with my bankroll
2) The players in these game are mostly very bad players (which I have found out)
3) The casino pays you 50 cents an hour on your players card
4) Free buffet for all bus riders (after you play an half an hours of poker for that day)
5) Free $10 in slot play for the next day you play ( after you play 2 hours of poker)
6) Great promotions: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday they give out $125 for every ace high spade flush, and $50 high hand every hour...with an average of 2-4 tables in the room this works well...they also pay $250 for a one card straight spade flush, and $500 for a one card spade Royal flush on these days...Thursday and Sunday are aces cracked wins a $100....Friday is Kings cracked gets to spin a wheel....the wheel consist of 24 spots...7 are $50...8 are $75...8 are $100...and the final spot is $250.....and Saturdays is high hand pays $50 every hour and every hour they will chose a table and add $50 to the pot of the next hand....other regular promotions every day is Royal flush (any suit) pays $250 and a bad beat jackpot (four of a kind beat) starts at $10,000 and grows $200/day.
7) If you play 50 hours in a month you get a free entry into an end of the month tournament that has a prize pool of $5,000 and usually averages 4-5 tables!
So after taking all this information...I analyzed the potential and decided to make a schedule for myself if I was come up here regularly....
First lets break down the profit potential:
A 2-4 game should bring a decent player about $6/hour according to most poker experts...I figure this number to be a bit conservative due to the level of the players at the casino, but I will roll with this number...
We are already getting paid $.50 cents an hour
We get $10 in slot play....with say a 90% payback on slots (might be a bit aggressive) we should net $9 ($10 X 90%) back on our slot play...this is considering that we play the free money and once the free money is expired.....whatever is left we cash out....no exceptions!
On estimating the worth of the promotions....we would say that considering the high hands and aces cracked promotions we should hit one every 2 days (playing 6 hours or more a day) which we will estimate to be worth a low $25/day
On estimating the worth of the spades promotions....we will make an initial estimate that we will hit a ace high spade flush once every 2 days of play as well (based on 10 hours a day of play) which would be worth $62.50/day
Now to the schedule: the bus picks up every morning at 9:15am and leaves the casino at 1:15, 6:00, or 11:00...since 2 and 1/2 hours is not enough play in a day we would usually come back on the 6 o'clock bus which would translate to about 6 hours of poker play with considering waiting list time and break time for lunch...however since the Monday through Wednesday promotions are so good we will at least at the start stay all the way to the 11 o'clock bus which would translate to about 10 hours of poker play with considering wait list time and break time for lunch and dinner...
With all this information this is what the schedule and profitability should look like:
Sunday: 6 hours of poker play to make $73
Monday: 10 hours of poker play to make $151.50
Tuesday: 10 hours of poker play to make $151.50
Wednesday: 10 hours of poker play to make $151.50
Thursday: 6 hours of poker play to make $73
Friday: 6 hours of poker play to make $73
Saturday: 6 hours of poker play to make $73
For a weekly earnings of $746.50 with 20% of weekly earning being used to build bankroll
Will need to get things situated on the home front but will put the plan in motion starting Sunday!
Take care!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The online Roller Coaster
So I wake up early in the morning and decide to play a couple of games. I decide that I want to go back to playing my Omaha hi/low Sit N Go's since I did pretty well yesterday and I wanted to throw in a cash NL game.
First I had to decide what size of a NL game I want to get into. I either could do 1 to 2 cent blinds, 2 to 5 cent blinds, or 5 to 10 cent blinds to fit my limit of a $2.50 bankroll. I decided for now to go with the 5 to 10 cent blind games.
Second, I realized that according to Ferguson's 3rd rule, I would have to cash out when the money on the table is over 10% of my bankroll. Since my initial buy-in will be over 10% of my bankroll, I realized, I needed another exception to the rule. So I decided that once I double my money, or get over the $5 mark in a game, I will have to cash out when the blinds get to me.
Full Tilt beginning balance: $14.48
NL 5-10 cents cash game -
I buy in the game and go through the blinds once not playing a hand. On the cut-off I get 3-4 hearts and decide to play the hand when no one opens. I raise the pot to 40 cents. The button and big blind call. The flop is 7-5-4 with one hearts. The blind checks and I bet 90 cents. The button folds and the big blind calls. The turn is a 10 of hearts. The blind checks I bet my last $1.15 and after some thought the blind folds.
A few hands later with $4.10 in front of me I get A-2 of hearts in the big blind. Three players and the small blind call. The flop is Q-10-9 all hearts. Yippee! Everyone checks the flop. The turn is a 3 of clubs and I bet 20 cents to get something in the pot. One player to my left calls and the small blinds calls. The river is a 7 of hearts. I think oh no any action that I had is probably gone now. So I bet 50 cents. The player to my left folds but the small blind re-reaises to $1.70. I think that the best play is to go all-in for over a $1 more and the small blind calls. He turns over K-J of hearts. Oh no! A straight flush...really?? I exit the game thinking no wonder people think this site is rigged...only half kidding.
Omaha Hi PL Sit N Go $2.25 buy-in:
That's right it is a high only game and not Hi/lo and I played the game by accident without knowing this. After many hands of waiting I pick of A-3-9-10 with the Ace and 3 suited in clubs under the gun. The blinds are 20-40 and we get 6 callers with the button raising it to 120 and everyone calling. The flop come 10-5-4 with two clubs. The small blind makes it 80 big blind calls and I go over the top and raise the pot. Everyone but the big blind folds. The turn is a 6 and the blind checks. I bet the pot which put me all in and the blind calls. the river is a K of spades. The blind turns over is hand and has 2-2-3-10 and I think I get half the pot with low, but am shocked when the blind scoops the pot....oh well I may have played the hand even if I knew it was Omaha high only. I finish 7th.
Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG $2.25 buy-in:
I get right back on the saddle and play the "right" Omaha PL tourney. Only to play a early hand very aggressive (and poorly). I have a nut low draw with a pair and bet heads up the pot on every station putting myself all-in on the turn only to miss everything and lose the hand to finish 9th. Oh no this is not very good.
Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG $2.25 buy in:
Long story short, I get a decent cruise to 4th place. With a whole bunch of A-2 cards that I play aggressively go nowhere. I finish 4th....money is dwindling away!
Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG Matrix $2.25 buy in:
So I just noticed that full tilt as a new thing called a matrix SNG...I will explain more on tomorrow's post, but basically it takes one buy in and lets you play 4 SNG with the same people at the same time. It rewards each game 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes and rewards a matrix bonus for the best overall performer in all three....if you win all 4 games you scoop the whole prize pool...sounds like my cup of tea!
So out of my first two games I finish last in one and 6th in another and Im thinking this will be another failure. I then take the lead in the other two games and end up finishing 1st and 2nd. I end up getting 3rd in the matrix bonus to get a small profit from the whole thing!
I go through my day and decide to come back and play after dinner. My 3 1/2 year old son is getting put to sleep by my wife so I figure I get to sneak in a tourney or two.
Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG $2.25 -
I play decent early to get a small lead but then go card dead and finish 6th....I am really starting to run out of money!
NL Holdem SNG Matrix $2.25 buy in -
I decide since it was so fun before I will play the matrix game again...however this time no Omaha game was available so I settle for a NL holdem game. Just as I start playing my son wakes up and starts begging for attention as I am playing all 4 games...if I for a second chose poker over my son my wife would strangle me...so I play fast and end up only getting one second place for a $1.08 return...oh no I only have a little over $3 left!
I play with the son for a bit and once he knocks out I get back to playing...
NL Holdem 600 FTP SNG:
I decide since I am running bad to give my point a try. I put 600 of my 2300 FTP to play in a single table winner take all tourney...winner gets a $26 tourney token. I pretty much blind off most of the game taking a chance with an all-in AQ and go busted 5th.
Omaha Hi/Lo PL Matrix buy-in $2.25
With a little money left I decide to wait about 30 minutes until an Omaha HI/Lo game (matrix) got started. And it finally did! I end up doing very well taking 1st in 3 of the 4 games (I finished last in the other one) and get 1st for the all around points! Not a bad comeback!
Omaha Hi/Lo PL Cash game .05-.10 $2.50 buy in:
The very first hand I get puts me on a nut low open ended straight draw....with 4 players and short stacked I am all-in on the flop...I miss the draws and go broke instantly...
I decided to give it one more time and buy in another $2.50....after about 20 minutes of play...I go broke with a full house which gets beat by a higher full house...comeback gets wiped away and so does my confidence
Full Tilt ending balance $3.21
Good night!
First I had to decide what size of a NL game I want to get into. I either could do 1 to 2 cent blinds, 2 to 5 cent blinds, or 5 to 10 cent blinds to fit my limit of a $2.50 bankroll. I decided for now to go with the 5 to 10 cent blind games.
Second, I realized that according to Ferguson's 3rd rule, I would have to cash out when the money on the table is over 10% of my bankroll. Since my initial buy-in will be over 10% of my bankroll, I realized, I needed another exception to the rule. So I decided that once I double my money, or get over the $5 mark in a game, I will have to cash out when the blinds get to me.
Full Tilt beginning balance: $14.48
NL 5-10 cents cash game -
I buy in the game and go through the blinds once not playing a hand. On the cut-off I get 3-4 hearts and decide to play the hand when no one opens. I raise the pot to 40 cents. The button and big blind call. The flop is 7-5-4 with one hearts. The blind checks and I bet 90 cents. The button folds and the big blind calls. The turn is a 10 of hearts. The blind checks I bet my last $1.15 and after some thought the blind folds.
A few hands later with $4.10 in front of me I get A-2 of hearts in the big blind. Three players and the small blind call. The flop is Q-10-9 all hearts. Yippee! Everyone checks the flop. The turn is a 3 of clubs and I bet 20 cents to get something in the pot. One player to my left calls and the small blinds calls. The river is a 7 of hearts. I think oh no any action that I had is probably gone now. So I bet 50 cents. The player to my left folds but the small blind re-reaises to $1.70. I think that the best play is to go all-in for over a $1 more and the small blind calls. He turns over K-J of hearts. Oh no! A straight flush...really?? I exit the game thinking no wonder people think this site is rigged...only half kidding.
Omaha Hi PL Sit N Go $2.25 buy-in:
That's right it is a high only game and not Hi/lo and I played the game by accident without knowing this. After many hands of waiting I pick of A-3-9-10 with the Ace and 3 suited in clubs under the gun. The blinds are 20-40 and we get 6 callers with the button raising it to 120 and everyone calling. The flop come 10-5-4 with two clubs. The small blind makes it 80 big blind calls and I go over the top and raise the pot. Everyone but the big blind folds. The turn is a 6 and the blind checks. I bet the pot which put me all in and the blind calls. the river is a K of spades. The blind turns over is hand and has 2-2-3-10 and I think I get half the pot with low, but am shocked when the blind scoops the pot....oh well I may have played the hand even if I knew it was Omaha high only. I finish 7th.
Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG $2.25 buy-in:
I get right back on the saddle and play the "right" Omaha PL tourney. Only to play a early hand very aggressive (and poorly). I have a nut low draw with a pair and bet heads up the pot on every station putting myself all-in on the turn only to miss everything and lose the hand to finish 9th. Oh no this is not very good.
Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG $2.25 buy in:
Long story short, I get a decent cruise to 4th place. With a whole bunch of A-2 cards that I play aggressively go nowhere. I finish 4th....money is dwindling away!
Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG Matrix $2.25 buy in:
So I just noticed that full tilt as a new thing called a matrix SNG...I will explain more on tomorrow's post, but basically it takes one buy in and lets you play 4 SNG with the same people at the same time. It rewards each game 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes and rewards a matrix bonus for the best overall performer in all three....if you win all 4 games you scoop the whole prize pool...sounds like my cup of tea!
So out of my first two games I finish last in one and 6th in another and Im thinking this will be another failure. I then take the lead in the other two games and end up finishing 1st and 2nd. I end up getting 3rd in the matrix bonus to get a small profit from the whole thing!
I go through my day and decide to come back and play after dinner. My 3 1/2 year old son is getting put to sleep by my wife so I figure I get to sneak in a tourney or two.
Omaha Hi/Lo PL SNG $2.25 -
I play decent early to get a small lead but then go card dead and finish 6th....I am really starting to run out of money!
NL Holdem SNG Matrix $2.25 buy in -
I decide since it was so fun before I will play the matrix game again...however this time no Omaha game was available so I settle for a NL holdem game. Just as I start playing my son wakes up and starts begging for attention as I am playing all 4 games...if I for a second chose poker over my son my wife would strangle me...so I play fast and end up only getting one second place for a $1.08 return...oh no I only have a little over $3 left!
I play with the son for a bit and once he knocks out I get back to playing...
NL Holdem 600 FTP SNG:
I decide since I am running bad to give my point a try. I put 600 of my 2300 FTP to play in a single table winner take all tourney...winner gets a $26 tourney token. I pretty much blind off most of the game taking a chance with an all-in AQ and go busted 5th.
Omaha Hi/Lo PL Matrix buy-in $2.25
With a little money left I decide to wait about 30 minutes until an Omaha HI/Lo game (matrix) got started. And it finally did! I end up doing very well taking 1st in 3 of the 4 games (I finished last in the other one) and get 1st for the all around points! Not a bad comeback!
Omaha Hi/Lo PL Cash game .05-.10 $2.50 buy in:
The very first hand I get puts me on a nut low open ended straight draw....with 4 players and short stacked I am all-in on the flop...I miss the draws and go broke instantly...
I decided to give it one more time and buy in another $2.50....after about 20 minutes of play...I go broke with a full house which gets beat by a higher full house...comeback gets wiped away and so does my confidence
Full Tilt ending balance $3.21
Good night!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
The First Day!
So it starts! On May 2nd, 2009 I will try to abide by Chris Ferguson's rules and try to build my bankroll from $8.93 to $10,000!
Started Full Tilt account with: $8.93
To start my first day I wanted to start with single game tourneys. I wanted to play one NL game and one Omaha Hi/low game. Abiding by the rules I am always allowed to play a Sit N Go tourney up to $2.50 anytime.
Since I have always felt stronger about my Omaha Hi/Lo game I decided to play a $2.25 Sit N Go in Omaha and a $1.25 NL Holdem Sit N Go.
$1.25 Holdem Sit N Go - I started the first two rounds with no action. Then about three hands in a row with a small pocket pair and Ace high I raised 3-4 times the big blind when no one opened. I stole all pots. The very next hand I get Ace-King and I raise it 3 times the big blind to 120. The button at the time who has 1,500 in chips raises to 300 and everyone else folds. With about 1800 in chips left, I decide that the button seeing my recent raises is deciding to put a stop to me. So, with Ace King, I decided to push all in. He calls with little delay and turns over pocket Jacks. After missing the flop, I get a wonderful Ace on the turn and even add a cherry on top with a King on the river.
I pretty much cruise the rest of the way until I pick up Queens with the blinds at 50-100. It is 6 handed and I open for 400 out of my 2900 in chips. The player to my left with 3200 in chips make it 900 and the button calls the 900 with 3000 in chips. Skeptical, I decide to see if I can take the pot right here and go all-in. The player to my left pushes all-in with pocket Aces and the button follows with A-K. The board provides no help and I finish 6th and out of the money...:-(
Not a great start...
$2.25 Omaha Hi/lo Pot limit Sit N Go
This Omaha Hi/Lo game came pretty easy where I hit a few big hand easily and build a nice comfortable lead. With 4 hands remaining, and everyone calling the 120 blinds the board is 2-2-Q. I look in my hand and I have a 2 and a queen. With about 5000 in chips I play fast and bet the pot on the button. The blinds with both about 1500 in chips fold and the player to my right with about 4200 calls. The turn is a 5 and I again bet the pot and the player calls. The river is a king and again I bet the pot (although nervous) and after a while of thinking the player calls which puts him all in. Turns out he only had 3-3-4-Q and for some reason decided to go all the way with it. After winning this pot, I have a commanding lead and easily knock out one of the players due to my raising almost every pot. With one player remaining and only 560 in chips left I thought for sure I would cruise to victory. Turns out, the player hits a few quads on me and actually at one point gets his/her chips up to 5500 with me having about 7500. After about another 10 minutes of heads up play I finally get to him and take 1st place! Yippee!
Good to finish on a winning day!
End of day balance - $14.48
Started Full Tilt account with: $8.93
To start my first day I wanted to start with single game tourneys. I wanted to play one NL game and one Omaha Hi/low game. Abiding by the rules I am always allowed to play a Sit N Go tourney up to $2.50 anytime.
Since I have always felt stronger about my Omaha Hi/Lo game I decided to play a $2.25 Sit N Go in Omaha and a $1.25 NL Holdem Sit N Go.
$1.25 Holdem Sit N Go - I started the first two rounds with no action. Then about three hands in a row with a small pocket pair and Ace high I raised 3-4 times the big blind when no one opened. I stole all pots. The very next hand I get Ace-King and I raise it 3 times the big blind to 120. The button at the time who has 1,500 in chips raises to 300 and everyone else folds. With about 1800 in chips left, I decide that the button seeing my recent raises is deciding to put a stop to me. So, with Ace King, I decided to push all in. He calls with little delay and turns over pocket Jacks. After missing the flop, I get a wonderful Ace on the turn and even add a cherry on top with a King on the river.
I pretty much cruise the rest of the way until I pick up Queens with the blinds at 50-100. It is 6 handed and I open for 400 out of my 2900 in chips. The player to my left with 3200 in chips make it 900 and the button calls the 900 with 3000 in chips. Skeptical, I decide to see if I can take the pot right here and go all-in. The player to my left pushes all-in with pocket Aces and the button follows with A-K. The board provides no help and I finish 6th and out of the money...:-(
Not a great start...
$2.25 Omaha Hi/lo Pot limit Sit N Go
This Omaha Hi/Lo game came pretty easy where I hit a few big hand easily and build a nice comfortable lead. With 4 hands remaining, and everyone calling the 120 blinds the board is 2-2-Q. I look in my hand and I have a 2 and a queen. With about 5000 in chips I play fast and bet the pot on the button. The blinds with both about 1500 in chips fold and the player to my right with about 4200 calls. The turn is a 5 and I again bet the pot and the player calls. The river is a king and again I bet the pot (although nervous) and after a while of thinking the player calls which puts him all in. Turns out he only had 3-3-4-Q and for some reason decided to go all the way with it. After winning this pot, I have a commanding lead and easily knock out one of the players due to my raising almost every pot. With one player remaining and only 560 in chips left I thought for sure I would cruise to victory. Turns out, the player hits a few quads on me and actually at one point gets his/her chips up to 5500 with me having about 7500. After about another 10 minutes of heads up play I finally get to him and take 1st place! Yippee!
Good to finish on a winning day!
End of day balance - $14.48
The Bankroll Builder Starts!
On September 2007, professional poker player Chris Ferguson, turned $0 into $10,000. It took him just under 2 years to accomplish this, but he made it! In fact this is not even the first time he has done something like this! He once, turned $1 to $20,000!
He did this by sticking to 3 basic rules:
1) He never buys into a cash game or a Sit & Go with more than 5 percent of my total bankroll (there is an exception for the lowest limits: he is allowed to buy into any game with a buy-in of $2.50 or less).
2) He won't buy into a multi-table tournament for more than 2 percent of his total bankroll and he is allowed to buy into any multi-table tournament that costs $1.
3) If at any time during a No-Limit or Pot-Limit cash-game session the money on the table represents more than 10 percent of his total bankroll, he must leave the game when the blinds reach him.
The website that Chris Ferguson accomplished this feat was on Full Tilt Poker.
So, I looked on my Full Tilt Poker account, and to my amazement I still had money in there. I had not played on the account for over a year and was pleasantly supprised to find that I still have $8.93 and about 2,200 FTP (Full Tilt Points). You can use these FTP to get prizes or enter into tournaments.
Anyhow, I always have been intrigued by what Chris Ferguson has done and I want to try it. In fact, I will document all my results, strategies, and play here on this blog. So, if anyone is just passing by, please comment on what you think I am doing right or wrong.
I will have a bit of a boost with $8.93 in my account, but I think I may need it!
So wish me good luck in building my bankroll!
He did this by sticking to 3 basic rules:
1) He never buys into a cash game or a Sit & Go with more than 5 percent of my total bankroll (there is an exception for the lowest limits: he is allowed to buy into any game with a buy-in of $2.50 or less).
2) He won't buy into a multi-table tournament for more than 2 percent of his total bankroll and he is allowed to buy into any multi-table tournament that costs $1.
3) If at any time during a No-Limit or Pot-Limit cash-game session the money on the table represents more than 10 percent of his total bankroll, he must leave the game when the blinds reach him.
The website that Chris Ferguson accomplished this feat was on Full Tilt Poker.
So, I looked on my Full Tilt Poker account, and to my amazement I still had money in there. I had not played on the account for over a year and was pleasantly supprised to find that I still have $8.93 and about 2,200 FTP (Full Tilt Points). You can use these FTP to get prizes or enter into tournaments.
Anyhow, I always have been intrigued by what Chris Ferguson has done and I want to try it. In fact, I will document all my results, strategies, and play here on this blog. So, if anyone is just passing by, please comment on what you think I am doing right or wrong.
I will have a bit of a boost with $8.93 in my account, but I think I may need it!
So wish me good luck in building my bankroll!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)