Haven't had much time to fool with this blog but here's an update through the end of '07

Total Hands: 28,000

VPIP: 16

PFR: 11

PTBB/100: 1.3

Still a winning player since joining CR but nothing close to the hot streak I was on when we started this deal.

Things I learned: Variance is a bitch, rakeback is a good thing, I still tilt too easily, moving down in stakes is humbling but necessary if bankroll says so

Goals for '08: 100K hands, follow bankroll rules strictly, be happy about making the right decision regardless of result, when I make the right read be able to take the right action

Good Luck to all,

JN

Pretty good week.

Hands this week: 1225 (NL25)

Total Hands: 2651

VPIP: 17.84

PFR: 13.13

PTBB/100: 10.97

Amount +/- this week: +104

Total Amount +/-: +145.45

I know most of you guys play this many hands in a day but what can I say? I have responsibilities. Too bad they didn't have this fancy interweb poker 20 years ago. My sample size is minute but it is nice to be winning a little instead of losing. Obviously, this winrate will be hard to maintain.

Sticking to Brystmar's starting hand chart keeps me from getting in too much trouble. Just have to work more on post flop play. Still overplaying marginal hands against guys that are never gonna fold. The first step is to admit you have a problem.

Goals for this week.

1500 hands

Work on overpair vs. overpair situations (seems like this is a spot where I lose frequently, KK vs. AA, etc.)

Watch 3 videos

First week of play using the Low Level NLHE Strategy Guide. Things went pretty well. Stats are as follows:

Hands: 1426

VPIP: 18.51

PFR: 12.83

Total Agr: 2.23

BB/100: 5.81

Amount+/-: +$41.45

Mostly 2 tables but occasionally 1 at a time when searching for another. I tried to change tables when the bad players went broke and good ones took their place. Made the most profit off of maniac types that would go to the felt with Ace high or TPTK. There was some variance because sometimes these guys had a monster but I tried to play against what I perceived as their range.

I have huge leaks that need to be plugged. I'm pretty solid PF by mostly sticking to Brystmar's hand chart but definitely need to re-watch the vids on post flop play. I'm going too far with speculative or weak made hands when I know I should let them go. I'll try to post some specific HH's when I get in front of my other computer.

Goals for the coming weeks

Play 1500 hands a week (may have to 3 table to reach this)

Get PFR up to 15%

Work on letting weak made hands go when evidence says I'm beat.

Participate in forums

Re-watch post flop vids

Hopefully, next week will go as well or better than this week. Anyway, it's keeping me out of the beerjoints.

I just joined CR last week. I'm a small loser online and small winner live. I will track my progress here to see if CR training can improve my results.

I'm not looking to make poker a career. However, my hat is off to the guys who do. I just want to be a consistent winner at micro/low stakes.

My plan is to try and use the skills learned here to improve my game and put the results down in writing so there is no selective memory that can fool me into thinking I'm better than I really am. I'm studying the Brystmar videos now and they suit my natural tendencies. I think TAG is the way to go for me.

I normally play full ring .1/.25 but since the training here seems geared more to 6 max, I'll play .1/.25 6 max. I've had modest success in $4.40 180 mans but with a wife & 1 yr old cash games make more sense due to time constraints. Live I play a weekly home game $31 SNG and .5/1 cash full ring. I make the odd trip to local underground rooms and Vegas. I realize I am under bankrolled but re-depositing is not an issue if needed.

I can devote 4-5 hours per week for training and another 4-5 hours per week to play.

Starting Point: 9/28/07

Total Online Deposits: $730

Online Bankroll: ~$350.00 (Stars) So down $380 total for online career

Live Bankroll: $865.00 ( started with $100 and have withdrawn several times)

Wish me luck, tell me I'm an idiot, offer advice. Whatever.