Well my first week back into the poker seen didn't start well, with me getting it in bad with a ton of tptk hands, just to run into sets and flush draws. I need to have better pot control, and self control with tptk. It is not a strong hand, and only really folds out worst on the flop. In the words of Taylor 'just pitch the hand'! Decided to drop down to 50nl, to find my feet. I just don't see the need for any fancy play down there. Play your hands and play them fast.......

So for the weeks results, down 100 bucks. So 9100 to get to my 10k roll. LOL! A long way to go.......

AA has not had a good week for me, had it 10 times won 20 dollars, not been past the flop once with it.

Lucky 7's have perform well, with 20 showings and 4 sets on the flop for a $124.50 profit.

Pocket 33's have misbehaved with negative $66, with my full house losing to four of a kind. MAJOR COOLER.

Will try and put some analysis of interesting hands for the week up soon........

Well how life has changed. Haven't played much over the last six months. As have been finalising my move to Sydney. Been here for three months now. One thing that I reliased about poker is that with out everything else in life in sync, poker doesn't work. So I have settled now, my flat is 50m from the beach.........

So on to poker. I want to achieve $10k this year. Have deposited 1k, so will keep you people updated.

The rules are as follows.

Start at 100NL

If I lose more that 4 buyins at any level drop down for the next week or 2,000 hands.

Withdraw from account once a week.

200nl at $3k

No crazy monkey tilt.

So here goes, enjoy the ride..........

What a difference a month makes, I am running super hot at the moment. Running at 20PTBB/100 at the moment. It is over 8000 hands, so I am just enjoying the upswing. Think that I am nearly ready to move back up to 200NL. But am going to stay at 100NL until I start running normal again......

I have read three quarters of the poker mindset, definately worth a read. It is all straight forward advice, but has defiantely helped me by having all this info in one place. The thing that I have noticed is that I am not getting frustrated with other players bad play and using it to my advantage, by taking more notes and being more confident in my reads.

As for big hands this month. Lost a $450 pot with AA, against 88. I played it so badly, as he hit trips on the turn. I shouldn't of let them stay in the hand that long! But yesterday the poker gods were shining down on me, as my KK stood up against AA when we had our stacks in the middle pf. My AA also stood up against pocket TT when he hit trips on the turn, and I hit them on the river. It is amazing how a couple of hands can define your day. Both these pots were for full stacks, so if they had of gone the other way, I would of been even for the day and not $400 up!

Ciao for now. ....

Having the last week of has done me the world of good! Really feel ready to play again, and might put my first session in tonight. Made a decision to split my bankroll, left a third at UB, moved a third to pokerstars, and withdrawn a third. Felt like I should reward myself for the money I have made in the last year. Taylor always tells us how important it is to withdraw. Since the start of May, I have only been taking out my rakeback. But now it is time to spend, spend, spend. In Thailand the start of Jan, so think that I am going to go for some tailored suits, and some sick iPod speakers. Definately going to start adding some hand histories to my blog, also will put a review of the poker mindset once I have read it.

Ciao for now!

A poker vacation...

Decided that I have not been playing my A-game over the last month, and so it is time for a break. I am not concentrating; my mind isn't in it and so time to take some time off. Annoyingly, after reading Taylor's blog it has made me more inspired, and more determined to develop. But I feel in the long term, it is a better to take a week off. I have put so much energy into playing and studying lately, that I am really drained by it at the moment. It was on the edge of taking over, and my life balance was starting to tip in the wrong direction. As much as I love poker, feel it is really important to take a break and come back refreshed, and ready to play. The last 2 months have been really essential to my development; I feel that with cardrunners I am going to make it to my goal, of being able to beat $400NL. As for October goals - I lost about $1800, did watch 10 cardrunners videos, did go to the gym 4 times a week and can also do the rubik's cube in less than 4 minutes now!

Time to give something back to our community!

Have adapted my Pokeracehud layout to what I believe to be a great layout. I have the layout for UB and Full Tilt.

What I like about it, is that it puts area in a column for each stage of the hand, so it is easy to work out what stat is what. Here is a picture of it. If anyone wants the layout give me your email address and I will email it to you.

Have added to it now since I did the screen print about six months ago, now includes what street people fold. But columns as follows.

VPIP Attempt to Steall Blinds C-Bet Went to SD Fold Flop

PFR Fold Big blind steal C-Bet Fold Won @ SD Fold Turn

AF Fold Small blind steal C-Bet Raise Bet River Fold River

If anyone has any ideas for improvements, let me know?

I am not to proud.....

I said that my blog would get back to poker, and so it does. I have been having a bad time this month at the tables, I am $800 down so far. As always, I am out to learn, and so I have been trying to employ sound bankroll management.

I started the month, with just over 30 buy ins for 200NL (as cashed out a bit) , that is now down to about 20 buyins. So it was time to move down to 100NL, and play with my 30+ buyin cushion. I felt the more that I lost at 200NL, the worst I played, as the cards didn't hit it got even worst, but then they owe me nothing so I can't blame them. Moving down, has restored my confidence, I have hit a 10 buy in run, as I know I can beat 100NL consistanly (8bb/100 over 35k hands). I don't think I am going to move up again until I am sufficiently rolled, and then I can play with no restrictions, and with a restored confidence. Maybe I am not ready for 200NL, time will tell......

Ciao for now.

Need your help.

I promise my next blog will be about poker, but at the moment my thoughts seem to be elsewhere. I have been thinking of quotes and poems that inspire, in any aspect of life. My girl friend put this one inside a card, the day before my CFA exam....

Will have to wait until next week.....

Was gutted to see Lewis retire from the grand prix. He was racing well, but made one mistake of staying out to long, and trashing his tires. This got me thinking about how a good poker player Hamilton would make. He is ice cold, has kept his head, and takes calculated risks. He does not worry about what is going on around him, and is so focused on bringing his A-game to the table. The turmoil that has happened around McClaren, Hamiliton and Alonso this year, it would be enough to put any one on tilt! Lets hope that he delivers in Brazil, and brings home the title that he truly deserves.

Well done to France, for beating the Kiwi's. The results at the rugby world cup yesterday sent a thunder bolt through world rugby!