Weekly Bankroll Update 1/27 - 2/2

I think sometimes the poker gods just love to mess with me. Every time I think I'm dead in the water going into Saturday, I pull some sort of miracle out of my butt. Last week started off well with another deep run in the Weekly Bonanza, but then started to go downhill from there. I kept getting ridiculous beats where my opponent would flop straights, flushes and full houses on me, or I would get crushed in key situations by two and three-outers on the river. I even bubbled a satellite tourney finishing 7th with six paid. For three days this happened until I finally broke through with a second place finish in Step 1 ($3.30 SnG), and a couple of good runs in the $1.10 27-man tourneys. Then I reverted back to getting crushed for a couple more days until last night. I was hovering around even for the week, maybe even down a little and then went on a nice run cashing in the Daily Bonanza, getting a 2nd place finish in the 27-man, and winning a Step 1 SnG. Unfortunately the win came on a Saturday so no Step 2 tonight as we start over on Sundays. That's ok though. I'll take it. Here are some numbers:

Play Money: 19,317,000 Up 1,548,000

Real Money: $1,390.54 Up $21.59

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)

I'm super excited for this week as the Grizzly Games are back on Global Poker. There will be trophies given out to the winners, as well as hats and T-shirts, and they can be played for play money and real money. There are a couple of real money ones I want to play, but mostly I'll be grinding the play money ones trying to get a trophy. The trophy will be nice to have, but more importantly I'll be eligible to participate in the Hometown Heroes promo. You can get money for taking photos and videos of yourself around your hometown and home casino. It's usually worth about $60 for me so even though I'll be playing play money tourneys, there will be real money potential on the line. I also have a horse in the race for the Super Bowl tonight (Go Pats!) as I bought four squares ($5 each) through work. It's $75 for the 1st and 3rd quarters, $150 for halftime, and $250 for the end so, go me! I'm just $57 off my peak now and the past two weeks have been, um, ok. It'd be nice to make some profit early in the week for once so I'm not sweating going into Saturday. Today I'll be playing the Weekly Bonanza as well as the $5,000 freeroll that kicks off the Grizzly Games. I need to figure out what my nightly schedule is going to be this week since there is so much going on. I normally don't like to play more than three at one time, but I guess if I have to I will. The first Grizzly Games tourney starts at 8:15 and the second one at 9:15. I may sit out the Daily Bonanzas which start at 9:00, but I will continue to play the $0.50 satties into the Grizzly Games Main Event which start at 10:20. Somewhere in there I need to fit in my Step tourney, but I may also sit out the $1.10 27-man tourneys, unless I bust everything early. Oh yeah, I also have school work to keep up on too. Goodbye sleep!

Weekly Bankroll Update 12/2 - 12/8

I was up and down last week as SnGs played a dominant role in my game selection. I started out well cashing in the Weekly Bonanza, but tapered off as the week went on. I still ended at a record-high though. Sit N Go's can be tough sometimes especially if you're used to playing cash games. It's a very different pace and strategy. I also have an uncanny ability to finish 4th when 3 are paid. Anyway, take a bite of these numbers:

Play Money: 12,932,000 Up 174,000

Real Money: $1,293.05 Up $2.67

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)


School is over until Feb 2nd so I will be vamping up my play over the next two months. I'd like to focus mainly on the $20 cash game and $6 SnGs going forward. It does mean I'll probably have to undergo some swings, but I feel like my bankroll is healthy enough to withstand them. In order for it to grow, I have to be playing at an optimal level and $10 cash games and $3 SnGs just aren't cutting it anymore. It's hard to believe, but there are just three of us left in my football survivor pool. I have New England this week, and they have Denver and the LA Chargers respectively. Go Pats!

Benny the Greek's NFL Playoff Picks- Round 3

Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots- I want to say this is a no-brainer, but the Ravens have a NASTY defense while the Patriots' has been porous at times this season. Still, Tom Brady is likely to be considered one of the best QBs of all-time (that's right I said it) especially if the Pats go all the way. That would give him 4 rings. Only two others have 4 and no QB has 5. The home field advantage and Bill Belichick's coaching mastery will be too much for the Ravens to handle. Patriots 31 Ravens 17.

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers- This might be the most difficult game to predict so far. Both of these teams are playing so well I wouldn't be surprised if it went into double overtime. I'm picking the Giants, but that's only cause the coin came up tails. Both QBs are fantastic, both running games are solid, and both defenses are aggressive. Giants have the experience though. Giants 24 49ers 23.