Had another succesful session today. Played about 1300 hands and won 13.49PTBB/100. I really think these games are ridic soft but I have also learned a lot in the last short while. I am running hot obviously and this winrate over the last 4k hands or so (like 18PTBB/100) is obviously not sustainable. But I really think I am playing very well too. Since the start of my blog I have watched a reasonable number of videos and read the 2+2 archives vociferously, as well as putting in some hands myself so my game is much improved. I am just thinking about things better, putting people on ranges better, making thinner value bets in the right spots etc.

When I started playing cash, being a SNG donk, I ran at 16/12 pre flop. Basically a nut peddler. This was profitable of course as even a monkey could beat 25 and 50NL probably just waiting for big hands. However it wasn't really optimal.

My Pokerev graph showed my red and blue lines together going up diagonally and my green line doing the same but at about half the height. Imagine like FGators graph but with the green line going slightly up instead of being parallel with zero lolz. This meant that all my winnings were coming from showdown and I was losing a huge amount of money in non showdown pots. Its obvious why, when you play so few hands you are not stealing the blinds very often, you are also not raising, getting called and taking the pot down with a C bet as often. You simply win far fewer pots. You also might be not two barrell when its a good spot to do so, just from being unable to recognize such a spot since you are too busy just betting for value with your good hands. Luckily at low limits you get paid off so hard when you do make hands regardless that you can offset this to an extent and still have an ok winrate. However its still not optimal.

Loosening up, especially from stealing positions just wins you so much more money without showdown. That money is variance free since when your opponent folds you win the money in the pot 100% of the time (duh). Even though you are playing looser you have a higher winrate and more of your money is coming from non showdown pots so the variance will actually be lower.

I have been playing more like 21/17 and I have found to my amazement my green line sailing ABOVE the red and blue lines. I was hoping to get all three lines to run together but the difference has been even more dramatic. Given this is over a small sample so it doesn't necessarily mean thats how it will be in the long term but it definately means something. This is a vast improvement on what was happening before. I am also getting into more interesting spots post flop since I am in that position more often and with, on average, weaker holdings. However I think this is an area of my game that I am improving at immensely.

HAven't posted anything in a while. I just went down to see a Man Utd game and was away for like 5 days. I hadn't seen them for around 10 years so it was amazing. Beat Pompey 2-0, Ronaldo is the best footballer in the world imo its not even close. Kaka is honestly not as close to as good as this phenom.

Anyway poker wise, I got sick of donk and gos fast. Basically I tried to use them for some BR rebuilding and ran cold. Running bad in SNG's is the most depressing thing on Earth as they are really a grind. So I decided to bite the bullet and just play some 50NL to regain confidence. I don't have a set number of hands or $ goal for moving back up to 100NL, I think I will just know when its time. Anyway I haven't played much so far hands wise but have ran hot.

Some interesting hands:

Here I go for some thin value vs a hyper donk.

POKERSTARS GAME #15056471880: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.25/$0.50) - 2008/02/04 - 14:46:52 (ET)
Table 'Haltia' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: elFranzzz ($81.75 in chips)
Seat 2: TheConArtist ($51.55 in chips)
Seat 3: steverk ($78.75 in chips)
Seat 4: acreas77 ($13.35 in chips)
Seat 5: knox828 ($55.05 in chips)
Seat 6: witzar ($50.70 in chips)
witzar: posts small blind $0.25
elFranzzz: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TheConArtist [Qd Jd]
TheConArtist: raises $1.50 to $2
steverk: calls $2
acreas77: folds
knox828: folds
witzar: folds
elFranzzz: calls $1.50
*** FLOP *** [8h Qs Kc]
elFranzzz: checks
TheConArtist: bets $4
steverk: calls $4
elFranzzz: folds
*** TURN *** [8h Qs Kc] [Td]
TheConArtist: checks
steverk: checks
*** RIVER *** [8h Qs Kc Td] [Ks]
TheConArtist: bets $7.50
steverk: calls $7.50
*** SHOW DOWN ***
TheConArtist: shows [Qd Jd] (two pair, Kings and Queens)
steverk: mucks hand
TheConArtist collected $27.85 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $29.25 | Rake $1.40
Board [8h Qs Kc Td Ks]
Seat 1: elFranzzz (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 2: TheConArtist showed [Qd Jd] and won ($27.85) with two pair, Kings and Queens
Seat 3: steverk mucked [Ad Tc]
Seat 4: acreas77 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: knox828 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: witzar (small blind) folded before Flop

Here I decided to attack his weak lead on the flop. When he just flatted and checked the turn I decided he was calling the river, like never. Maybe it was spewy but I went with my read.

POKERSTARS GAME #15033226528: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.25/$0.50) - 2008/02/03 - 13:50:59 (ET)
Table 'China II' 6-max Seat #1 is the button
Seat 1: TheConArtist ($49.50 in chips)
Seat 2: PokerUwe_de ($52.50 in chips)
Seat 3: Tessai ($26.10 in chips)
Seat 4: PenNState222 ($35.65 in chips)
Seat 5: winslowboy ($46.30 in chips)
Seat 6: Robbedoes007 ($74.75 in chips)
PokerUwe_de: posts small blind $0.25
Tessai: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TheConArtist [7s 7d]
PenNState222: folds
winslowboy: calls $0.50
Robbedoes007: folds
TheConArtist: raises $2 to $2.50
PokerUwe_de: folds
Tessai: folds
winslowboy: raises $2.50 to $5
TheConArtist: calls $2.50
*** FLOP *** [6h As 3h]
winslowboy: bets $2.50
TheConArtist: raises $6.50 to $9
winslowboy: calls $6.50
*** TURN *** [6h As 3h] [9h]
winslowboy: checks
TheConArtist: checks
*** RIVER *** [6h As 3h 9h] [2s]
winslowboy: checks
TheConArtist: bets $35.50 and is all-in
winslowboy: folds
TheConArtist collected $27.35 from pot
TheConArtist: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $28.75 | Rake $1.40
Board [6h As 3h 9h 2s]
Seat 1: TheConArtist (button) collected ($27.35)
Seat 2: PokerUwe_de (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: Tessai (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: PenNState222 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: winslowboy folded on the River
Seat 6: Robbedoes007 folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Heres some run good hands. Flop the nizzles in one and just bet bet shove. AA vs KK for stacks AIPF. lolz Easy game.

POKERSTARS GAME #15016146720: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.25/$0.50) - 2008/02/02 - 19:50:22 (ET)
Table 'Nauplius IV' 6-max Seat #4 is the button
Seat 1: Bumbo88 ($75.65 in chips)
Seat 2: hieronymus ($97.25 in chips)
Seat 3: TheConArtist ($51.60 in chips)
Seat 4: MangoD ($60.30 in chips)
Seat 5: wubwubwub ($42.80 in chips)
Seat 6: giorgioprof ($131.90 in chips)
wubwubwub: posts small blind $0.25
giorgioprof: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TheConArtist [Jd Kd]
Bumbo88: folds
hieronymus: folds
TheConArtist: raises $1.50 to $2
MangoD: calls $2
wubwubwub: folds
giorgioprof: folds
*** FLOP *** [As Td Qs]
TheConArtist: bets $3.25
MangoD: calls $3.25
*** TURN *** [As Td Qs] [8h]
TheConArtist: bets $8.25
hieronymus said, "if you raise we dont see the river"
wubwubwub said, "true"
wubwubwub said, "but wanted pc there"
MangoD: raises $27.75 to $36
wubwubwub said, "but not good after all :D"
wubwubwub said, "nh"
TheConArtist: raises $10.35 to $46.35 and is all-in
MangoD: calls $10.35
*** RIVER *** [As Td Qs 8h] [9d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
TheConArtist: shows [Jd Kd] (a straight, Ten to Ace)
MangoD: mucks hand
TheConArtist collected $100.95 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $103.95 | Rake $3
Board [As Td Qs 8h 9d]
Seat 1: Bumbo88 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: hieronymus folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: TheConArtist showed [Jd Kd] and won ($100.95) with a straight, Ten to Ace
Seat 4: MangoD (button) mucked [Qh Th]
Seat 5: wubwubwub (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 6: giorgioprof (big blind) folded before Flop

POKERSTARS GAME #14885211418: HOLD'EM NO LIMIT ($0.25/$0.50) - 2008/01/28 - 11:27:14 (ET)
Table 'Jupiter' 6-max Seat #6 is the button
Seat 1: issagi ($53.55 in chips)
Seat 2: Darwin327 ($18.20 in chips)
Seat 3: TheConArtist ($61.30 in chips)
Seat 4: slickpair22 ($56.70 in chips)
Seat 5: AceKanone ($50.15 in chips)
Seat 6: jzza ($26.95 in chips)
issagi: posts small blind $0.25
Darwin327: posts big blind $0.50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to TheConArtist [As Ac]
TheConArtist: raises $1.50 to $2
slickpair22: folds
AceKanone: folds
jzza: folds
issagi: raises $51.55 to $53.55 and is all-in
slickpair22 leaves the table
Darwin327: folds
TheConArtist: calls $51.55
*** FLOP *** [6s 2s 9d]
*** TURN *** [6s 2s 9d] [Jh]
*** RIVER *** [6s 2s 9d Jh] [Tc]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
issagi: shows [Ks Kc] (a pair of Kings)
TheConArtist: shows [As Ac] (a pair of Aces)
Poocster joins the table at seat #4
TheConArtist collected $104.60 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $107.60 | Rake $3
Board [6s 2s 9d Jh Tc]
Seat 1: issagi (small blind) showed [Ks Kc] and lost with a pair of Kings
Seat 2: Darwin327 (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 3: TheConArtist showed [As Ac] and won ($104.60) with a pair of Aces
Seat 4: slickpair22 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: AceKanone folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: jzza (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Sigh. Played another 60 SNG's today. I want to start playing over 100 a day but I just have had a few things too many to do the last few days.

Well, yup I ran ICE cold again. At one point I lost with a big pair to Ax FIVE times in a row in one set. No joke, busted in 5 of my SNG's in a single set in a row, in quick succession, with no other all in pre flop hands in beteen as a 70/30 favourite, all with an A, not flushes or anything. It just sort of sums it up. I am starting to get really upset with how things are going. I know its just variance because the games are SO soft. I know what they say about SNG's being less beatable post UIGEA but my god, even the multi tabling regs are on the whole terrible nevermind the large number of complete fish swimming in large numbers still at the low limits. I have reviewed my play in SNGpt especially bubble play. I am missing some ATC shoves and making a few small shoving mistakes. Nothing major though and I really feel like I am one of the best low limit SNG players playing regularly. I never tilt, I never spew early and I make fewer push/fold mistakes than most. Yet somehow stars hates me and sees to it that all 70/30's are actually races and all races are 30/70's against me. I am losing EVERY vital all in. If its a race on the bubble there is zero chance I will win. All my unexploitable shoves get coolered to hell.

My breakeven stretch in SNG's is now like 700 games and I have had two seperate 25 buy in downswings in that time. People like Spacegravy can expect to have stretches like this due to the sheer number of games they play, but for my small sample of lifetime SNG's have two seperate 25 buy in downswings within one 700 game breakeven stretch is incredibly unlikely.

SNGs played: 60

ROI: -10%

Profit: -$96

Please God ONE TIME let me run hot. This blog is already turning into pure bitching and moaning and I really don't want it to. Will try to post more hands up next time and remain positive about playing well rather than worrying about results. It IS just variance and the variance in poker is sicker than nearly everyone truly knows but it can be really sickening when you are experiencing it.

So I managed to play 50 SNG's yesterday as i was pretty busy with some other things. I ran really cold. Sigh. I am now in both the biggest cash game and SNG downswings I have ever experienced simulataneously and its really really mentally grinding on me. The $16Ts were toughish compared to what they normally are with a few regs around but they are still really really soft. I think I am in a 30 buy in SNG downswing and something like a 500 game breakeven in the low limit soft as hell SNG's. I have now lost 33% of my BR in the last few weeks despite the fact I am an unbelievable BR nit. For most people even conservative with their BR, they would have gone broke by now. I am in a BR busting slump.

I got 2 outered something like 6 times in 50 SNG's in the first two levels. It was just unreal. At one point I got two outered twice within about 1 minute of each other and then on another table about 5 minutes after that I got KK vs AA AIPF. Disgusting. I also got a 6k stack AA>QQ, AK and AK in level 1 and still bubbled it losing 4 consecutive all ins on the bubble. I seem to lose every vital all in 6 handed downwards no matter how much of a favourite. My unexploitable shoves keep getting called by dominating hands which is a cooler every time obviously. I am only winning 40% of HU even though I play HU almost perfectly (mathematically speaking) Its so brutal but I know I can crush these games I just need to put in the volume and eventually I will run hot and pull myself out of this. I am determined to see this challenge through until my BR is back to where I want it to be to hit the 6max 100Nl tables again. Here's hoping today I run hotter than the Sun. I could really do with a good session or two (not to mention am LONG due) because my confidence is at its lowest ebb ever and the variance is kicking me in the face.

Yesterdays results:

50 SNG's:

-17.31% ROI

-$138.50.

Some short term goals in terms of poker:

I am still well rolled for 100NL but after that downswing my confidence has taken a bit of a hit. I am also a total BR nit so whilst I am comfortably rolled I like to be snug. I also don't want to move down because for some reason I find it tough to move down in cash compared to SNG's or tournaments psychologically.

I am reasonably good at donk and go's so I am going to play the $16 and $27T's on stars until my BR gets to the point I want it to for me to jump back into 100NL at the start of this new resolution. From that point on I will be playing almost strictly cash, with the odd SNG thrown in and maybe some MTT's on a Sunday if I play to change things up a bit. At the moment I am about $1500 away from that point. If I run average this will take me about 750 games. If I run hot like 400 games. If I run like shit, well who knows. Variance is kinda gross so it could take easily 2k or even 3k games depending just how vomit inducingly gross. We will see and I will put my results here and maybe some interesting/close bubble type hands. I 12 table usually so getting the volume in shouldn't be too difficult and i would imagine that this shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks at most if I put in any hours at all.

Here's hoping I don't sooooicide.

Ok so after today which is basically my worst day ever by about 3x the previous worst I have decided to start my blog. The specifics are unimportant but I really didn't think it was possible to lose quite so many buy ins in just a few thousand hands but apparantly stars hates me and wishes to cooler me again and again and again and just when you think the worst is over and you win a buy in back, BAM TWO OUTER.

Good time to start? Well I think so because I spent the rest of the evening reflecting and I am going to put some of my thoughts here and I now believe this to be a positive thing because it forces me to take a long hard look at myself and if I had drifted along winning small amounts without this big slap in the face I may not have maximized my potential.

First of all this blog is really just for me to write random thoughts and bullshit about poker. I won't be putting in any personal stuff because I am not aba no one cares less. I really don't know if anyone at all will end up wondering in here but if they do hopefully my experiences will help them in some way.

Well contemplating how to deal with my brutally large and quickly attained downswing I decided a lot of things.

1. I am a huge procrastinator. I just fuck about looking up random bullshit and wasting my free time. I have done this all my life. I spend more hours reading random p5s and 2+2 bs than playing no joke.
2. I am not critical enough of my own play. Sure I read the forums, watch training videos trying to improve, but a huge part of improving is assessing your own play to look for holes and leaks in your own game. This is best done by thorough review of your own HH's, with the help of other better players for the most part. I don't do this enough. Listening to Taylor talk about building an image is all well and good but when you have huge fundamental flaws in your game your time spent learning could be better spent elsewhere.
3. I run bad
4. I don't have any poker friends. That sounds like the most hilarious sob story ever yeah, but I don't have any poker players on AIM, especially ones better than me that can help me improve, discuss hands etc. Part of this is lack of activity in the poker related forums (OT and NVG go fuck yourselves) and just general non passive communication with other players. This is a huge part of a players learning, associating and regularly communicating with good players.

So starting from now I am going to make a big push towards improving myself. I mean every free poker related minute I spend is either actively learning or playing. Who cares about Brandi. I am going to post at least a couple of hands every single time I play in the forums, here on 2+2 etc. I am going to get on AIM and MSN with good players eventually to talk poker. If all goes well I may even get a coach but I think I want to spend a good month or so REALLY working hard on my game intensely before doing so.

My goals are not financial. My only goals in that regard is that I keep building my roll. But this is a long term thing. x$ per hour or per week is just stupid to even think about. Long term improvement is whats important. The money will sort itself out.

Here goes nothing.

Conor.