Hello again readers! After a little 6-month hiatus, I’ve decided to start the blog back up. New year, new decade and new goals. 2019 was a busy year for the family and I. My daughter started Kindergarden, I got my MBA, we renewed our lease on one of our cars, and bought another, re-financed our mortgage, started renovating our bathroom, my brother got married and moved to Virginia Beach, Jackie got a new boss, and I now can work from home. Phew! See why I needed a break? I have been playing poker over the past 6 months despite all the craziness in my life, but mostly online. I was making weekly trips for a while to MGM and managed to break even over 7 sessions. The format this year will be a bit different since I’m technically managing two bankrolls (online and live), but I will be combining them when talking about my overall total. It’s winter here in New England and not ideal for traveling to the casino, but I do plan on playing live again in the spring so I’ll be posting my live total as well as my online total. I cashed out all but $60 of my Global roll back in June so I could bank it for live play and have run it back up to over $300 since then. I was actually hoping to start this new year on a positive note by making $100 in the Daily Hundo last night, but instead was blessed with my third 4th place finish in that tourney. I had to settle for $10 instead, but broke even on the week. Here’s where I’m at to start 2020:
Play Money: 67,900,000
Online: $303.58
Live: $2,241.00
Total: $2,544.58
My live roll might be a little higher, but I haven’t been to the bank to see my balance in a while. Should be more accurate next week. The plan this week is to play MTTs on Global Poker. I’ll play the Weekly Bonanza today, the Newsletter freeroll on Tuesday, and the nightly Bonanza, nightly Freeroll, Daily Hundo, and the nightly $3.30 Turbo (no rebuy or add on) for a total of 30 tournaments and $30.98 in buy ins. My rule of thumb this year is to invest no more than 10% of the total online roll in MTTs each week while playing as many tourneys as possible. SnGs and cash games online will take a backseat until I can build the roll a little more. The main goal right now is to get the total bankroll over $4,000 so I can comfortably play $200 cash games at the casino. For online, I’d just like to break $500 in the short-term. Let’s see how this week goes. It’s nice to be back and thanks for reading!
Showing posts with label poker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poker. Show all posts
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Weekly Bankroll Update 10/14-10/20
Well, the Eagle Cup is about to come to a close, and I still have no trophy, but I sure have been close a number of times. Tonight the series concludes, and I've made 8 final tables so far. Last night I finished runner-up which was heart breaking. I came into heads-up at a 4-1 disadvantage, and just couldn't overcome it. We were 3-handed for a really long time and we each were chip leader and short stack at various points. I played a little real money too finishing the week with a small profit. The grind to make back my big loss from last week is underway and here is where I am:
Play Money: 11,482,000 Up 1,025,000
Real Money: $1,243.85 Up $12.03
Target for next MTT level: $1,650 ($33)
Target for next Cash Game level: $2,000 ($100)
Target for next SnG level: $2,200 ($110)
This week is going to be a short one as I'll be away Friday thru Sunday, but I still have two more chances at a trophy tonight, and I'll probably play more $10 and $20 cash games throughout the week. I was happy to start making back my losses and will continue to grind hard possibly playing some MTTs. I ran really well during this Eagle Cup and my MTT game is sharp at the moment so we'll see. The casino will have to wait until next month, but no worries. I'm playing A-game poker right now.
P.S. - As a side note, please stay tuned for a blog post at the end of the month as I review Rockstar Games' newest installment Red Dead Redemption 2. I will also be posting it on writerjax' blog writerjax.net as part of her Blogtoberfest series so stay tuned for that. I haven't been this excited for a video game since I got a Nintendo when I was 14 years old. RDR2 is changing the open-world genre as we know it and I seriously can't wait!
Play Money: 11,482,000 Up 1,025,000
Real Money: $1,243.85 Up $12.03
Target for next MTT level: $1,650 ($33)
Target for next Cash Game level: $2,000 ($100)
Target for next SnG level: $2,200 ($110)
This week is going to be a short one as I'll be away Friday thru Sunday, but I still have two more chances at a trophy tonight, and I'll probably play more $10 and $20 cash games throughout the week. I was happy to start making back my losses and will continue to grind hard possibly playing some MTTs. I ran really well during this Eagle Cup and my MTT game is sharp at the moment so we'll see. The casino will have to wait until next month, but no worries. I'm playing A-game poker right now.
P.S. - As a side note, please stay tuned for a blog post at the end of the month as I review Rockstar Games' newest installment Red Dead Redemption 2. I will also be posting it on writerjax' blog writerjax.net as part of her Blogtoberfest series so stay tuned for that. I haven't been this excited for a video game since I got a Nintendo when I was 14 years old. RDR2 is changing the open-world genre as we know it and I seriously can't wait!
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Weekly Bankroll Update 3/11-3/17
Last week was my most profitable since I began this blog back in August of last year. Most of my winnings came from a monster session in my home game and was capped off by some online winnings. There were seven of us in the home game and we play a cash game with $0.25/$0.50 blinds. I started with $40 and walked out with $137 for a $97 profit. I wanted to go over a couple of hands that came up that night that I thought would be interesting to talk about here. There were three really big hands that I won to get most of my profit.
The first one came about two hours into the session. I picked up 6-7 of spades in middle position. There was a pre-flop raise from early position to $1.50 and I called as did the big blind. The flop came K-8-9 with two spades (the 8 and 9). I had flopped an open-ended straight flush draw. Big blind checked and pre-flop raiser bet $2.50. I called and the BB folded. Turn was a blank. Pre-flop raiser bet $5 and I called. There was now $19.75 in the middle. The river was a spade giving me a flush. Pre-flop raiser checked and I bet $8.50. After some thought, the pre-flop raiser called. I turned over my flush and beat his two pair. The river bet was just enough to get him to call. Any more than that would have chased him out I figured and I was right. A lot of players have the tendency to bet too much when they hit their hand on the river costing them a lot of potential profit.
A few hands later I picked up Q-10 off on the button. There were a few limpers so I popped it to $1.50 and got four callers. Flop came K-J-4. There was a $2.00 bet and a re-raise all-in for around $7. One player folded, and I called as did the other player. The turn was a 7. The other player bet $5, and I called. The river came A. I rivered broadway! The other player bet $6.50 and I raised to $15. He called and turned over a set of 4s. The all in player had a weak King, and my straight took a pretty good sized pot. Again, I made a small enough raise on the river to keep the guy with the set of 4s in the pot. "I didn't even see the straight possibility," he said.
Finally, late in the session, I picked up A-K in early position. Under the gun player raised to $1.50. I re-raised him to $4.50 and he called. Flop came A-Q-6. With $9.75 in the middle, UTG bet $5 and I raised to $10. He called and the turn came a K. I had top two pair now. UTG bet $15 and now I was a bit concerned. What could he have here? A weak ace? A set of 6s? Did he turn a straight? I casually threw my $15 in the middle trying my best to look unphased. The river came a 10 and now I was like "Oh shit!" in my head. A jack would make a straight. Amazingly, he checked and I immediately checked behind him. He flipped over A-Q. My two pair beat his and I finally exhaled.
One other hand that came up I wanted to talk about. It didn't involve me, but I registered it in my memory because I think it shows the glaring difference between casual amateur players, and the big-time every day pros. The button, with around $60 in front of him, raises pre-flop to $1.50. UTG player, who had limped in, called with about $75 in front of him. Flop came J-J-10. UTG bets $2.50 and button calls. Turn is a 10. UTG bets again, this time for $5 and button calls. River was a 8 or 9. Can't remember exactly, but UTG bets $20 and button calls. "Well, I think we are chopping unless you have two 10s", said the UTG player turning over K-J for a full house. "I have two 10s", said the button player. After some ooohs and aaaaahs, I looked over at the button player and said, "Dude, you should have been able to double up there." Why did the button not raise the river bet with quad 10s??? I'm positive the UTG player would have called anything. "I don't know", he said. "I just figured... I don't know." The guy who had quad 10s eventually busted losing his $40. The UTG player ended the session down just $20. And that, my friends, is why I love my home game so much. Easy pickins!
Anyway, I have been getting some requests to make this blog a little more interesting so I thought sharing those hands would liven things up a bit. Here's where I'm at right now:
Play Money: 4,794,000 Up 432,000
Real Money: $646.48 Up $108.22
Target for next Cash Game level: $1,000 ($50)
Target for next SnG level: $1,100 ($55)
Target for next MTT level: $1,100 ($22)
This week, I will be playing the $5.50 rebuy tourney every night starting at 8pm. It's a $5,000 guarantee, and I treat it like a regular $5.50. I don't re-buy and I don't add on. I played it twice last week with no luck. First place normally pays between $1,200 and 1,500. I have also been playing the $3.30 SnGs, but may abandon those soon for the $10 cash game. I still haven't decided, but it's certainly nice to have some insurance to work with above $550. $1,000 is the next target and there's a long way to go to get there.
The first one came about two hours into the session. I picked up 6-7 of spades in middle position. There was a pre-flop raise from early position to $1.50 and I called as did the big blind. The flop came K-8-9 with two spades (the 8 and 9). I had flopped an open-ended straight flush draw. Big blind checked and pre-flop raiser bet $2.50. I called and the BB folded. Turn was a blank. Pre-flop raiser bet $5 and I called. There was now $19.75 in the middle. The river was a spade giving me a flush. Pre-flop raiser checked and I bet $8.50. After some thought, the pre-flop raiser called. I turned over my flush and beat his two pair. The river bet was just enough to get him to call. Any more than that would have chased him out I figured and I was right. A lot of players have the tendency to bet too much when they hit their hand on the river costing them a lot of potential profit.
A few hands later I picked up Q-10 off on the button. There were a few limpers so I popped it to $1.50 and got four callers. Flop came K-J-4. There was a $2.00 bet and a re-raise all-in for around $7. One player folded, and I called as did the other player. The turn was a 7. The other player bet $5, and I called. The river came A. I rivered broadway! The other player bet $6.50 and I raised to $15. He called and turned over a set of 4s. The all in player had a weak King, and my straight took a pretty good sized pot. Again, I made a small enough raise on the river to keep the guy with the set of 4s in the pot. "I didn't even see the straight possibility," he said.
Finally, late in the session, I picked up A-K in early position. Under the gun player raised to $1.50. I re-raised him to $4.50 and he called. Flop came A-Q-6. With $9.75 in the middle, UTG bet $5 and I raised to $10. He called and the turn came a K. I had top two pair now. UTG bet $15 and now I was a bit concerned. What could he have here? A weak ace? A set of 6s? Did he turn a straight? I casually threw my $15 in the middle trying my best to look unphased. The river came a 10 and now I was like "Oh shit!" in my head. A jack would make a straight. Amazingly, he checked and I immediately checked behind him. He flipped over A-Q. My two pair beat his and I finally exhaled.
One other hand that came up I wanted to talk about. It didn't involve me, but I registered it in my memory because I think it shows the glaring difference between casual amateur players, and the big-time every day pros. The button, with around $60 in front of him, raises pre-flop to $1.50. UTG player, who had limped in, called with about $75 in front of him. Flop came J-J-10. UTG bets $2.50 and button calls. Turn is a 10. UTG bets again, this time for $5 and button calls. River was a 8 or 9. Can't remember exactly, but UTG bets $20 and button calls. "Well, I think we are chopping unless you have two 10s", said the UTG player turning over K-J for a full house. "I have two 10s", said the button player. After some ooohs and aaaaahs, I looked over at the button player and said, "Dude, you should have been able to double up there." Why did the button not raise the river bet with quad 10s??? I'm positive the UTG player would have called anything. "I don't know", he said. "I just figured... I don't know." The guy who had quad 10s eventually busted losing his $40. The UTG player ended the session down just $20. And that, my friends, is why I love my home game so much. Easy pickins!
Anyway, I have been getting some requests to make this blog a little more interesting so I thought sharing those hands would liven things up a bit. Here's where I'm at right now:
Play Money: 4,794,000 Up 432,000
Real Money: $646.48 Up $108.22
Target for next Cash Game level: $1,000 ($50)
Target for next SnG level: $1,100 ($55)
Target for next MTT level: $1,100 ($22)
This week, I will be playing the $5.50 rebuy tourney every night starting at 8pm. It's a $5,000 guarantee, and I treat it like a regular $5.50. I don't re-buy and I don't add on. I played it twice last week with no luck. First place normally pays between $1,200 and 1,500. I have also been playing the $3.30 SnGs, but may abandon those soon for the $10 cash game. I still haven't decided, but it's certainly nice to have some insurance to work with above $550. $1,000 is the next target and there's a long way to go to get there.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Weekly Bankroll Update 3/4-3/10
It was another short week for me on Global Poker and I was up and down, but down in the end. Again, a small loss, but with homework taking up the majority of my time, it's really no surprise as it's hard to focus when I'm not playing every night. Here's where I reside:
Play Money: 4,362,000 Down 18,000
Real Money: $538.26 Down $8.50
Target for next MTT level: $550 ($11)
Target for next Cash Game level: $1,000 ($50)
Target for next SnG level: $1,100 ($55)
This week I should be playing a little more as I made it through my 3rd class toward my MBA, but class #4 starts this Saturday. No rest for the wicked. I need to come up with a more profitable plan other than playing SnGs. They are very hard to profit in and even harder to win when playing them exclusively. I have to get back to playing MTTs. Almost my entire bankroll has been built on those. Tonight is my home game and I have had a dismal run there the past four sessions: -$36, even, -$14 and -$9 for a total of -$59. That ends tonight! If I can just get some insurance above $550, I will expand my range and play higher stakes. Hopefully this week I'll be successful.
Play Money: 4,362,000 Down 18,000
Real Money: $538.26 Down $8.50
Target for next MTT level: $550 ($11)
Target for next Cash Game level: $1,000 ($50)
Target for next SnG level: $1,100 ($55)
This week I should be playing a little more as I made it through my 3rd class toward my MBA, but class #4 starts this Saturday. No rest for the wicked. I need to come up with a more profitable plan other than playing SnGs. They are very hard to profit in and even harder to win when playing them exclusively. I have to get back to playing MTTs. Almost my entire bankroll has been built on those. Tonight is my home game and I have had a dismal run there the past four sessions: -$36, even, -$14 and -$9 for a total of -$59. That ends tonight! If I can just get some insurance above $550, I will expand my range and play higher stakes. Hopefully this week I'll be successful.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Weekly Bankroll Update 2/25-3/3
It was a pretty slow week on Global Poker for me as homework, job, and family took precedence. I played a little and was down a little, but no big deal as I was basically a part-timer last week. I took a shot at the 200,000 cash game for play money and was reminded why I need to be overly patient as I lost my entire stack on the third hand when my aces were cracked. I was also down $8.75 in my home game as that now makes four consecutive sessions without a profit. Here are my tallies:
Play Money: 4,380,000 Down 114,000
Real Money: $546.76 Down $3.51
Target fpr next MTT level: $550
Homework is going to take up almost all of my free time this week as I count down the final week of class #3 for my MBA. Expect things to be a little quiet for the next couple of weeks as I try and keep up with life. I have a very comfortable bankroll right now, and I'm in no hurry to rush things.
Play Money: 4,380,000 Down 114,000
Real Money: $546.76 Down $3.51
Target fpr next MTT level: $550
Target for next Cash Game level: $1,000
Target for next SnG level: $1,100
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Weekly Bankroll Update 2/18-2/24
Winter rages on, and as it does my bankroll continues to creep up little by little. I didn't play as much as I wanted to last week due to homework obligations, but I also didn't do as much homework as I wanted to either. It was baby steps all around, including at my job, as I continue to try and piece together the responsibilities of my new position. Poker mirrors life and life mirrors poker I suppose. I focused primarily on 9 person SnGs to raise the roll last week, and I played one play money MTT finishing 4th and recouping my losses earlier in the week from ring games. I was able to make back my losses from last Saturday's debacle, and it's up in the air right now as to whether or not I'm playing the home game this week. Here are my numbers to date:
Play Money: 4,494,000 Up 2,000
Real Money: $550.37 Up $12.32
Target for next Cash Game Level: $1,000 ($50)
Target for next MTT level: $1,100 ($22)
Target for next SnG level: $1,100 ($55)
Things will certainly slow down this week as I delve into homework. If I can get it all done by mid-week I will jump back on the tables, but that's being optimistic. I desperately need to get some insurance over $550, and I might go back to "small ball" mode to get it.
Play Money: 4,494,000 Up 2,000
Real Money: $550.37 Up $12.32
Target for next Cash Game Level: $1,000 ($50)
Target for next MTT level: $1,100 ($22)
Target for next SnG level: $1,100 ($55)
Things will certainly slow down this week as I delve into homework. If I can get it all done by mid-week I will jump back on the tables, but that's being optimistic. I desperately need to get some insurance over $550, and I might go back to "small ball" mode to get it.
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Weekly Bankroll Update 2/11-2/17
The Grizzly Games are officially over and I managed to get 9th on the overall leaderboard (again). I played six tourneys on the last day and had three top 10 finishes to get there. I didn't hit my goal of top 8, and I didn't win any events, but finishing 9th overall and getting a runner up finish was close enough I guess. I took a break last week from playing, but started up again last night and was down a bit after getting slaughtered in SnGs. I'm not very concerned though since it was just one day. I have all week to make it up, but homework may derail me a little. My home game was only 5 players last week, and I was down $14 after some very frustrating beats. Here are some numbers:
Play Money: 4,492,000 Up 632,000
Real Money: $538.05 Down $12.08
Target for next MTT level: $550 ($11)
Target for next Cash Game Level: $1,000 ($50)
Target for next SnG level: $1,100 ($55)
This week is going to be a bit slow as I try and stay caught up with my schoolwork. I'm also in the process of trying to learn my new position at work which can be mentally exhausting. It's looking like $3.30 SnGs are what I'm going to be focusing on to try and get over the $550 mark, but there have been whisperings of Global changing up their MTT schedule this week. I also have my home game next Sunday night to try and add some to the roll. As always, stay tuned!
Play Money: 4,492,000 Up 632,000
Real Money: $538.05 Down $12.08
Target for next MTT level: $550 ($11)
Target for next Cash Game Level: $1,000 ($50)
Target for next SnG level: $1,100 ($55)
This week is going to be a bit slow as I try and stay caught up with my schoolwork. I'm also in the process of trying to learn my new position at work which can be mentally exhausting. It's looking like $3.30 SnGs are what I'm going to be focusing on to try and get over the $550 mark, but there have been whisperings of Global changing up their MTT schedule this week. I also have my home game next Sunday night to try and add some to the roll. As always, stay tuned!
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Catching Up
Hello readers! Long time, no blog. I thought after a 3 year, 1 month hiatus, it was time to fill you in on how life has been going. This will probably have to be spread out across a number of posts, but you got to start somewhere so here goes.
For starters, I'm a dad now. For those of you who know me personally, this will not come as much of a shock to you. For those of you that don't, or haven't seen or talked to me in a long time, SURPRISE! She just turned 2 years old on July 8th, and her name is Julia (Juli for short). She is the center of my universe and makes me laugh on a daily basis. Needless to say, I am all caught up on my Sesame Street, Thomas the Train, Sid the Science Kid, and Wild Kratts episodes. Thankfully, she isn't too fond of Barney the purple dinosaur. Phew! There is so much to write about regarding Juli, but I will save that for future posts. Anyway, back to business.
I went back to school in January of 2014 and completed my bachelor's degree in Business Management from Westfield State University this past May. It was a tough grind for those 2 1/2 years (baby, new house, 2 jobs, one of them new), but I got through it, and did it entirely online. Not to make excuses, but school was a big reason why I have been failing at my blogging duties these past few years. I have plans to begin my MBA at MCLA in September of next year, and just recently was promoted to a back office position at the bank I've been working at since June of 2014. Given the sensitivity of the information I am privy to, I won't be discussing my job very much, if at all.
As I touched upon in the above paragraph, Jac and I bought a house in Richmond, MA back in November of 2014. It's pretty cool being a homeowner, and I don't miss apartment life at all. It's very private, down the road from my mom, and a 5 minute walk to the beach and boat launch. We kayak as much as we can, and Juli absolutely loves going down to the small private beach to play in the water. We are loving the pond life.
I haven't been keeping up too much on what's been going on in the sports world. We don't have real cable so ESPN basically doesn't exist in my world. Plus, SportsCenter has been reduced to filling viewers in on what athletes and coaches are tweeting about, and is more entertainment news than it is actual sports news. Like, I really don't care what Kevin Durant had for breakfast this morning, or how Dwyane Wade likes to spend the off-season. I want numbers, and stats, and highlights! That's sports! Save all the other crap for the morning talk shows and senseless radio banter. My fantasy baseball teams are holding on by a thread this year, mostly because I am not up to date on who's hot and who's not, but I shouldn't complain. In one of my leagues, I've won the championship 4 of the past 5 years. Too bad that one isn't for money. Oh well, bragging rights still count for something don't they? At least football is right around the corner, and that I can actually watch on TV. Plus, I'm in a pick 'em league where you can actually win some real money. I came close the past two seasons, but I kept getting screwed right at the end. This is the year I break through so watch out! By the way, congrats to the city of Cleveland! You finally get to hang your hats on LeBron's golden coat rack! Maybe the Indians will follow suit, and the Browns...ok let's not get carried away. Guess this means the Cubs will win the World Series this year if current trends are any indication.
And now, on to poker. Ah, poker. Feels like just yesterday that the government pulled the plug on all of us online players because we were getting royally screwed over by the greedy, high-up executives that were using stacks of $100 bills as kindling to fuel the fires in their giant fireplaces. It only took three years, but I did get my money back from Full Tilt, or the government, or whoever was getting interest on it. The WSOP just wrapped up for the summer, and as usual, the November 9 is full of names I have never even heard of. There were a few highlights to mention however. We should start with what I consider to be this year's most impressive accomplishment which was Brian Rast's second Poker Player's Championship victory. The 34-year old poker pro put up the $50,000 buy-in, and bested a field of 90 of the world's best players to take down $1,296,097. This is especially impressive given the fact that when he finally got heads-up with Justin Bonomo, he was facing a 4-1 chip disadvantage.
Another one of the summer's big stories involved well-known poker pro Jason Mercier. Mercier began his incredible run with a win in the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Championship earning his 4th bracelet. Just an hour later, he entered the $10,000 Razz Championship where he finished in 2nd place. As if that wasn't enough, his next event, the $10,000 HORSE Championship, was another win, and Mercier's 3rd consecutive final table, and 5th WSOP bracelet. In all, Mercier cashed 10 times at this year's World Series, and now finds himself in a rather exclusive group of poker players with 5 or more bracelets. Oh yeah, and he also proposed to his girlfriend Natasha Barbour immediately following her 3rd place finish in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold-Em event. Hell of a summer for Jason!
Other highlights of this year's WSOP include kindergarten teacher Lisa Meredith's 3rd place finish in the $1,500 Millionairre Maker. She took down $500,000 for her effort, and it was her first ever WSOP event! Nicely done!
Benny Glaser also made news after he became the player ever to win bracelets in back-to-back Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better events in the same WSOP. He now has 3 career WSOP bracelets.
So what about me, you ask? Have I been grinding out small scores in nearby home games and local charity tournaments, or travelling back and forth to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun playing various tourneys and cash games? Have I been crushing poorly playing amateurs and taking their lunch money while they go out to the parking lot to cry in their cars and try to explain to their significant others why they came home broke? Am I preparing to head west for the bright lights of Las Vegas with $30,000 in my pocket like Matt Damon at the end of the movie Rounders? Sadly, no. No personal poker highlights to speak of these days. No bankroll, no big games, and no time. Hopefully all that will change in the near future, and you will all be the first to know when it does. Until then...
For starters, I'm a dad now. For those of you who know me personally, this will not come as much of a shock to you. For those of you that don't, or haven't seen or talked to me in a long time, SURPRISE! She just turned 2 years old on July 8th, and her name is Julia (Juli for short). She is the center of my universe and makes me laugh on a daily basis. Needless to say, I am all caught up on my Sesame Street, Thomas the Train, Sid the Science Kid, and Wild Kratts episodes. Thankfully, she isn't too fond of Barney the purple dinosaur. Phew! There is so much to write about regarding Juli, but I will save that for future posts. Anyway, back to business.I went back to school in January of 2014 and completed my bachelor's degree in Business Management from Westfield State University this past May. It was a tough grind for those 2 1/2 years (baby, new house, 2 jobs, one of them new), but I got through it, and did it entirely online. Not to make excuses, but school was a big reason why I have been failing at my blogging duties these past few years. I have plans to begin my MBA at MCLA in September of next year, and just recently was promoted to a back office position at the bank I've been working at since June of 2014. Given the sensitivity of the information I am privy to, I won't be discussing my job very much, if at all.
As I touched upon in the above paragraph, Jac and I bought a house in Richmond, MA back in November of 2014. It's pretty cool being a homeowner, and I don't miss apartment life at all. It's very private, down the road from my mom, and a 5 minute walk to the beach and boat launch. We kayak as much as we can, and Juli absolutely loves going down to the small private beach to play in the water. We are loving the pond life.
I haven't been keeping up too much on what's been going on in the sports world. We don't have real cable so ESPN basically doesn't exist in my world. Plus, SportsCenter has been reduced to filling viewers in on what athletes and coaches are tweeting about, and is more entertainment news than it is actual sports news. Like, I really don't care what Kevin Durant had for breakfast this morning, or how Dwyane Wade likes to spend the off-season. I want numbers, and stats, and highlights! That's sports! Save all the other crap for the morning talk shows and senseless radio banter. My fantasy baseball teams are holding on by a thread this year, mostly because I am not up to date on who's hot and who's not, but I shouldn't complain. In one of my leagues, I've won the championship 4 of the past 5 years. Too bad that one isn't for money. Oh well, bragging rights still count for something don't they? At least football is right around the corner, and that I can actually watch on TV. Plus, I'm in a pick 'em league where you can actually win some real money. I came close the past two seasons, but I kept getting screwed right at the end. This is the year I break through so watch out! By the way, congrats to the city of Cleveland! You finally get to hang your hats on LeBron's golden coat rack! Maybe the Indians will follow suit, and the Browns...ok let's not get carried away. Guess this means the Cubs will win the World Series this year if current trends are any indication.
And now, on to poker. Ah, poker. Feels like just yesterday that the government pulled the plug on all of us online players because we were getting royally screwed over by the greedy, high-up executives that were using stacks of $100 bills as kindling to fuel the fires in their giant fireplaces. It only took three years, but I did get my money back from Full Tilt, or the government, or whoever was getting interest on it. The WSOP just wrapped up for the summer, and as usual, the November 9 is full of names I have never even heard of. There were a few highlights to mention however. We should start with what I consider to be this year's most impressive accomplishment which was Brian Rast's second Poker Player's Championship victory. The 34-year old poker pro put up the $50,000 buy-in, and bested a field of 90 of the world's best players to take down $1,296,097. This is especially impressive given the fact that when he finally got heads-up with Justin Bonomo, he was facing a 4-1 chip disadvantage.Another one of the summer's big stories involved well-known poker pro Jason Mercier. Mercier began his incredible run with a win in the $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Championship earning his 4th bracelet. Just an hour later, he entered the $10,000 Razz Championship where he finished in 2nd place. As if that wasn't enough, his next event, the $10,000 HORSE Championship, was another win, and Mercier's 3rd consecutive final table, and 5th WSOP bracelet. In all, Mercier cashed 10 times at this year's World Series, and now finds himself in a rather exclusive group of poker players with 5 or more bracelets. Oh yeah, and he also proposed to his girlfriend Natasha Barbour immediately following her 3rd place finish in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold-Em event. Hell of a summer for Jason!Other highlights of this year's WSOP include kindergarten teacher Lisa Meredith's 3rd place finish in the $1,500 Millionairre Maker. She took down $500,000 for her effort, and it was her first ever WSOP event! Nicely done!
Benny Glaser also made news after he became the player ever to win bracelets in back-to-back Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better events in the same WSOP. He now has 3 career WSOP bracelets.
So what about me, you ask? Have I been grinding out small scores in nearby home games and local charity tournaments, or travelling back and forth to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun playing various tourneys and cash games? Have I been crushing poorly playing amateurs and taking their lunch money while they go out to the parking lot to cry in their cars and try to explain to their significant others why they came home broke? Am I preparing to head west for the bright lights of Las Vegas with $30,000 in my pocket like Matt Damon at the end of the movie Rounders? Sadly, no. No personal poker highlights to speak of these days. No bankroll, no big games, and no time. Hopefully all that will change in the near future, and you will all be the first to know when it does. Until then...
Sunday, April 1, 2012
The Home Game Wrap-Up
9 players once again this week, and the normal cash game stakes of .25/.50. I started off well as my pocket 7's rivered a boat against the unpredictable Joe Haugh. I raised pre-flop and bet every street. Joe had hit top pair on the flop, but he check-called every bet. Had he made a move before the river I would have been out of the hand. I was fortunate to catch that river 7, but never would have gotten there if I hadn't made up my mind to bet out till the end. That hand seemed to start a trend as it seemed every pot after that was $20 or more. There was even a $120 hand as Todd Gerssler tripled up through two players who had the same hand. Matt Sinico was the big winner however with a $150 profit on the night. I was up $61, putting me at $322 overall. The next two weeks, I'll be on hiatus as work comes calling once again. I do have a Mohegan Sun trip planned for my birthday on Monday, April 9th so stay tuned.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Some Poker Survival Tips
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Perhaps one of the most difficult things a poker player has to endure is the inevitable downswing his/her bankroll will take. This will take its toll not only financially, but psychologically as well. How well you manage your bankroll and your emotions will define your success as a professional. Here are a couple of tips that have helped me immensely.
1. When you're not running well, don't play as much. It's impossible for a poker junkie not to play when they want to play, so the next best thing is to play less. Playing well below your maximum limit can help too.
2. Set your limits accordingly, and stick to them. 20 buy-ins for cash games, 30 for Sit and Gos, and 50 for Multi-table tournaments are the levels I have set for myself. That means I need $4000 MINIMUM to put $200 on a cash game, $6000 for a $200 Sit and Go, and $10,000 for a $200 tournament. If I don't have it, I don't play it.
3. Don't play hungry, tired, sick, broke, distracted, drunk, angry or desperate. If you do, you will almost always lose.
4. Learn how to play other poker games besides hold 'em, such as Omaha, stud, and 2-7 just to name a few. Also, learn the different variations (hi/lo, limit, pot-limit, etc.). Because knowledge is power!
5. If your bankroll is less than six figures, find a job if you don't already have one. I actually have three jobs at the moment. I don't have a bankroll big enough to live on, so I work. I don't like it, but it's what I have to do if I want to play AND pay my bills.
These are just some of the things I try to do as I slowly work my way up to be a pro. Sometimes it's necessary to play above your limits when your bankroll is small, but I try not to make a habit of it. It helps if you have a residual income as well. I don't consider poker a form of gambling. I like to think of it as more of an investment. You're gambling when you play games against the "house", or when you can't afford to lose your buy-in. I tell people all the time: "I'm not a gambler, I'm a poker player."
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Another Week, Another Game
The live poker bankroll still sits around $3000, but the online bankroll has crept above $70 as things continue to go well. Had to play out of my limits a couple times to get there (and keep it there), but I'm cashing in the right tourneys, and staying profitable in the cash games. Hopefully I can keep it up. Until then...
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A Crazy Home Game And A Bankroll Update
This week the home game drew 9 players. It was the first time we've done a cash game and it was action packed. Blinds were .25/.50. There was aggressive play by what are primarily conservative players. The theme seemed to be: play junk and win. I took a couple of brutal beats. One was when I got all-in on an A-A-8 flop with A-10. Unfortunately my opponent was holding A-8. No 10 came of course. Another good one was flopping a straight with J-10. Flop was Q-8-9. Turn was a 10 and river was a K. My opponent was holding A-J. Nice.
When all was said and done I came out ahead $6. I was lucky enough to win a $40 pot with 2 hands left before we called it a night. The cash game was fun, but I actually prefer tournaments. Thinking that's what we'll play this week.
While the live bankroll stays at $3000, the online bankroll has jumped to $35 thanks to my first MTT win on Lock Poker. It was a $0.30 buy-in with 209 entries. 1st place payed $14.11. Everyone keeps asking me why I don't deposit any money on there, and my answer is always the same: because I don't have to. Plus, after the whole Full Tilt debacle, I'm a little hesitant to say the least. Bodog also got shut down recently, and I can't help but wonder who's next.
As I write this, 4am approaches (thanks to daylight savings time), and my eyes are getting heavy. Tomorrow will be my 7th day in a row of working with no end in sight. I can't turn down work in March even though it means I have to sit out my 2nd straight Berkshire Poker tournament. Guaranteed money is always better than a potential loss. The Berkshires can be a tough place to make a living in the winter and I'm happy just to be able to pay my bills this time of year.
Well, that's it for me. I'm going to bed.
When all was said and done I came out ahead $6. I was lucky enough to win a $40 pot with 2 hands left before we called it a night. The cash game was fun, but I actually prefer tournaments. Thinking that's what we'll play this week.
While the live bankroll stays at $3000, the online bankroll has jumped to $35 thanks to my first MTT win on Lock Poker. It was a $0.30 buy-in with 209 entries. 1st place payed $14.11. Everyone keeps asking me why I don't deposit any money on there, and my answer is always the same: because I don't have to. Plus, after the whole Full Tilt debacle, I'm a little hesitant to say the least. Bodog also got shut down recently, and I can't help but wonder who's next.
As I write this, 4am approaches (thanks to daylight savings time), and my eyes are getting heavy. Tomorrow will be my 7th day in a row of working with no end in sight. I can't turn down work in March even though it means I have to sit out my 2nd straight Berkshire Poker tournament. Guaranteed money is always better than a potential loss. The Berkshires can be a tough place to make a living in the winter and I'm happy just to be able to pay my bills this time of year.
Well, that's it for me. I'm going to bed.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Marching Through March
Week 4 of the home game is in the books, and the winners were Matt Sinico and the other Ben chopping $360 giving them each $180. It was a 9 person tournament. $30 1 re-buy and/or 1 add-on with 3 players paid. That now makes the third consecutive week that no one has repeated. I think this week is a cash game, and I'm lickin' my chops already. Due to my inconsistent work schedule, I had to miss last week's game.
The online bankroll is now approaching $20. Lock Poker is the site I play on now that Full Tilt is out of existence. The real money bankroll still sits at $3000, but hopefully this week I can increase it. Not a whole lot going on this month, but at least I'm working a lot. This time last year I wasn't working at all so I'm not complaining. There is a Berkshire Poker Tournament being held this Saturday at 2pm,, but unfortunately I won't be able to play that one as work interferes once again. I'll have more next week. Until then...
Monday, February 27, 2012
Home Game Update...
Although I was one spot out of the money (5th), I'm still up $50 over the first 3 weeks. Lots to be excited about. 2 new players were added to the mix, with more newbies to come. I envision the game getting up to 19 players soon.
One thing I need to work on and adjust is the blind structure. This week's tournament ran long. We began at 7pm and didn't finish until 1am. That's just too late for most of us who have day jobs (although $350 IS worth staying up for). Unfortunately I'll have to wait until next week to see how it goes. I'm bartending for the Country Club this Thursday where the popular Irish band The Wolfe Tones are performing. I'll have an update next week on how things play out. Until then...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Back In The Game
We're having another game on Thursday at a different venue across the street from where I live. I only have an 8 person table, but my neighbor has a 10 person table. Much more fitting for our group I think. I didn't expect all 8 players to play so the change of venue is perfect. Plus if we get more than 10 players we can have two tables going. Hopefully this is the beginning of a long and prosperous home game.
Also, this weekend there is a local charity tournament going on which I'm entering. My friend Matt won $200 on a scratch ticket a couple of days ago and made an extremely generous donation by covering my $75 buy-in. Thanks Matty! More good news, I'm saving all of my tax return money which puts my current bankroll just over $3000! Feels great to be playing and winning at live poker again. I'll keep you all updated on the results from this weekend, and I'll try to put up more pics on my next post. Until then...
Friday, December 30, 2011
New Year's Resolutions for 2012
Assuming the world doesn't end on 12/21/2012 like many people seem to think, I thought I'd list some resolutions for the upcoming year.
1. Play more live poker tournaments. Even though construction has not yet begun on Massachusetts casinos, there are two casinos just an hour and a half to two hours away. If I can play at least 12 tourneys, I'll feel like I've done my job for the year.
2. Read more books. I have a list a mile long of books to read. I figure 6 is a good number.
3. Travel somewhere I've never been. Hawaii would be nice. :)
4. Blog more. Enough said.
5. Excersize. I'm 37 and approaching "that age".
6. Eat healthier. I actually eat pretty well, but I know I can do better.
Happy New Year readers! And thanks for all your support! Hope 2012 is good to you all!
1. Play more live poker tournaments. Even though construction has not yet begun on Massachusetts casinos, there are two casinos just an hour and a half to two hours away. If I can play at least 12 tourneys, I'll feel like I've done my job for the year.
2. Read more books. I have a list a mile long of books to read. I figure 6 is a good number.
3. Travel somewhere I've never been. Hawaii would be nice. :)
4. Blog more. Enough said.
5. Excersize. I'm 37 and approaching "that age".
6. Eat healthier. I actually eat pretty well, but I know I can do better.
Happy New Year readers! And thanks for all your support! Hope 2012 is good to you all!
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