Last time I tried to start/get involved with a poker group the timing wasn't quite right. I didn't have the time available to devote as much effort as was needed. I feel now is much better for me seeing as how I watch every video that goes up on CardRunners and I've been playing 4-5 times per week.

I feel my game is spot on right now, but I just can't seem to run at expected value. I have no doubt I'm playing well and I'm trying to move up to 100nl asap. But I have to start running better so I know I'm playing correctly. I rarely feel like I'm getting outplayed at 50nl and I know I'm getting my money in good a majority of the time. Things will turn, just the bad side of variance.

Anyway, I'm looking to start a poker group sometime soon. I'm looking for people who are in the 50nl and 100nl/200nl area. I want to take this semi-seriously, meaning, I want this to be fun for the most part and not "this is my life, let's do EV calculations all day." Basically, I want some people who want to learn/move up, are willing to devote time to sweating others/be sweated, and possibly start a blog.

Let me know if you're interested.

Andy

Well Stars felt bad that I was spending so much time at FTP. They welcomed me back nicely with a +6.5 buy in session. I played 8 tables for about 2 hours at 50nl for $325 profit. Ship it. I ran incredibly hot though, losing one all in with top set vs. a guy who shouldn't have been in the pot at all. He called pre for a 4x raise with 96dd oop and flopped a str. He played it ok I guess after that. Luckily some guy shipped me a 200bb pot at another table shortly after :)

So I guess I'm set on Stars. I think the 8 tables helps me. It keeps me from getting impatient and from playing too many hands. I just have to quit when I'm running bad. Thankfully this session happened today. I was getting pretty distressed after yesterday's monstrocity (sp?).

Anyway, I will probably be doing similar sessions for the time being. And no heads up!

Maybe it was the guy who overshoved for $50 in a $10 pot with JJ on a 332 board and beat my KK when his J spiked on the river. Maybe it was the guy who raised me on an 8c8s6c board with 65ss vs. my JJ and then proceeded to call my shove and get a straight flush. Or maybe it was when I 3 bet QQ, bet a Q high flop only to get called by 77 who hits a runner runner straight. Or the set over set? Or the 3 outer? Or that 2 outer? Anyway you put it, I'm done with full tilt unless they offer rakeback. Oh, all those hands happened today. I played maybe 600 hands? Rough guess. I know it's not full tilt, but for some reason I decided to run like complete ass there the last couple of days. Down maybe 500, maybe 600? The money doesn't bother me. I ran $200 up to like 1k, withdrew a few times from the site. I'm up there over the last I don't know how many months. The money really doesn't bother me. It's why I'm running like ass the last 6 months. I've had some good days, but these beats are just confusing the hell out of me. Am I good? I think so...at least good enough to beat 50nl, hell, even 100nl.

Why do I get scared when a guy has only 2 outs to beat me? Less than 10% chance. Why do I sweat the AK vs. AQ. Why do I doubt my 15 outer will get there ever. These shouldn't happen. I should be fist pumping when the guy shoves with only 2 outs. But I worry. That doesn't make sense.

At heart I am a worrier. An over analyzer. A constant thinker. I worry about stuff that has no relevance on my life. Instead of getting excited I got it in as a 90% favorite, I worry about that 10%. Because it feels like it's switched.

I hate worrying about every little thing. I want to retire with my girlfriend on a beach somewhere. Is this how I'm going to run? I know positive thinking is important, but it's hard when stuff gets down on you like this.

A long time ago I told myself that all I wanted out of life was to be with the right person, my true love. And I know I found that person, deep down I know it, with every bit of my heart and mind. There's no doubt about that. But since that's all I needed, are other things not going to turn out the best possible? Is there a subconcious within me that put every effort into finding the one and let other things slip? It's pretty funny really. Is there a balance like that? I put 99% of me into thinking about the one for me, 1% about everything else. Is that the success I'll see? I highly doubt that.

I don't know where I'm going with this. It just feels like the universe won't let me have both. lol. And I'll choose her every single time. But it's sorta funny. How hard it is to have it all. But I believe I will.

Well, my game has officially gone to shit. I've only been able to win lately by coolering people. Except at 6 max...there I've been doing ok. But only when realizing that people at 50nl are genuinely morons and either don't have it or overvalue their hand. Sometimes they do, but their bet sizing gives it away every time. It's pretty obvious, and I can capitalize.

But not before revamping my game. I am no longer going to play HU. At least for the time being. It just tilts me so much. Especially when playing someone and you have no idea what they can have. Their ranges are so wide it often becomes a guessing game. Not to mention I think I set a record today for flush over flush (me being on the bad end every time). I also had a hand where i flopped the bottom end of the str. (56 on 789 board), 3 bet a guy on the flop, then overshoved turn and he called with J6 only to hit, yep, the 10. I was amazed and disgusted. And this tilts me, and I lose more.

I need to stick to 6 max and work on not getting coolered. I don't know what kind of challenge I'll do, but I think I'll withdraw down to 3k and play 50nl until i get to 5k, take out 1k and then try 100nl. And I'm giving up on full tilt. This will be my last week there. I'm going to get to 1k in the account and then take it out. Sad to say I was over 1k today, but it will likely take me a few days to get back. But I'm going to stick to 6 max on stars. I know these guys will just give it away.

Anyway, I'm rambling.

In other news, the video admin job is going well. It's great when everyone gets me their videos way early, then I can produce weeks in advance. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. Although this week I have every video but one ready already. I'm pretty happy about that. I guess I just prefer staying way ahead with this job compared to others.

But I'm also going to look into some business ventures. I paid my taxes today and thankfully because I was in grad school one semester, I don't owe that much. I don't know where I'll start with side jobs, but I'm going to look this week. I can't keep doing this poker thing. It's really stressful at times. I'm trying to save up for some big things, but it's proving to be frustrating and depressing. I feel like I have all this ambition and no where to throw it. I'm wasting it on poker, I don't have the level headedness needed for true success in the game.

I just lost every bit of profit that I had the last 3 days. All of it. You kidding me? AA < 77, AA < QQ, KK < A2, AA < 105ss, AA < K9s, QQ < 99

Yeah, if I won all those (like stats say I should) I'd be up like $500. Instead, no.

Fuck this game sometimes.

No biggie, it's just like I didn't play these last couple days, lol.

I haven't updated in awhile it seems, but I've been pretty busy. Taking over for Kevin as the video admin has gone pretty smoothly, although there are still some issues that I'm working on. I'm trying to produce the videos at a faster rate which has gone well so far except for all the issues with the Nutedawg series. I honestly don't know what's up with those videos because I've produced them the same way as all the others. We're working on it, but if you're having trouble watching it, stick to the flash player for now. Everything else has been going alright. I'd like for some of the guest pros to get me their videos sooner because a few times this week I've had some downtime where I could've previewed some videos and gotten far ahead. Oh well, maybe things will change? :)

But the job is pretty great I have to say. It's very relaxed and whoever takes over Ezra's job is going to be pretty lucky. I think my poker game is getting better as well...I don't see how it couldn't since I'm watching 10 videos per week (well, 9 + ctz). And since I haven't had to withdraw from my bankroll recently, I took a shot at 100nl and so far it's going well. I'm up 5.5 buyins the last 3 nights...about 4-5 hours of play overall I think. Pretty good hourly :) That even includes losing an all in pre with AA vs. KK for 230 bbs.

I plan to keep at it for the time being, withdrawing some, but once I get to 8k or so I'll probably take a shot at 200nl. I feel like I'm playing well right now. A lot of the problems before I think involved too much bluffing in dumb spots and getting involved in dick-swinging contests with some of these jokers. It's much easier to take a nittier approach because I don't think most of the guys are paying attention. We'll see if this continues.

But I'm pretty pumped to be making good money. March will be pretty good overall between the video admin job, poker, teaching a class once per week at roosevelt and doing freelance work for my old boss with real estate market analysis. It's a lot, but what else am I going to do? I want to pay off my student loans and save up for some other big events...

Talked to Andrew today and I'll be taking over Kevin's job as video admin. This could not have come at a better time because my funds are running low and there's no end in sight for this poor economy and job market. I'll finally be able to start putting together a serious nest egg between the job, poker and side jobs I will continue to do. I'm very excited about all of this.

And after my awful short session at 50nl 6 max (-3 bi in about 30 min.), I won half back at stud and just now I had a +2 buyin session at 50nl HU. The games are so good HU, I'll probably continue there until I can get back to the 100nl games, 6 max and HU. But right now, the HU games are more profitable for me.

I had a feeling today would be a good day, but I thought I was gonna win the 25 billionth hand, haha. Anyway, I'm excited mainly because I can start making some real money, saving up, investing, etc. For the rest of the day I'll probably work on starting to organize a bunch of stuff, clean up my room, play poker, work out.

I'm thinking I'll take a weekly check from stars for half my profits and put it all in an interest bearing account for now. Maybe take 10% for enjoying whatever, I dunno yet. Anyway, I'm excited to start saving, haha. Growing up I was pretty cheap, this was the ongoing joke in my family, I think I'm quite opposite now. But there's something about saving money and seeing it grow in your bank accounts. I think this will motivate me to play more poker and start seriously grinding. Anyway, I'm pretty excited for all of this.

I was blowing off steam in that last entry, so I deleted it. I'm gonna take a nap or something and wake up in a couple of hours for when the 25 billionth hand is gonna be dealt. One time?

I just saw the most ridiculously awesome thing for the hand 24.93 billion. They are awarding people on every millionth hand until the 25 billionth one. And they tell you if yours is one of those millionth hands before the hand is dealt. Everyone gets something at the table, even if you lose the hand.

Here's what happened. 25nl table. First guy goes all in, only one other guy goes all in and there was 5 or 6 people dealt into the hand. The others folded!!! They are guaranteed to make like $100 or so just for being in the hand, but $212.50 if they win for this particular hand. Like, wtf are you doing. But here's the awesome part. The 2 guys had Q10 and 92 and the board ran out AAJAJ so they both won the $212 for both winning the hand.

Seriously, there are so many dumb people on stars, I can't believe I'm not a millionaire already.

7 card stud gods. Please bring me back to my "omg how can you run so good" state. It was fun, I didn't mean to be cocky, it just happens.


It's pretty sick that ever since my post about how I'm a god at stud I've managed to run pretty poorly to break even or so. There's been plenty of unreal hands and such, and I'm definitely on the bad side of variance. However, I still manage to do ok when I play due to the unreal play I see. People just love to try and suck out. I've been doing more of this lately and that's part of my problem. I also have to remember how to catch more than just a pair of Ks or whatever. I've had a flush lose to other flushes or str. flushes (wtf?) and full houses lose as well. Those are always rough and happen, but just sucks.

Anyway, I've managed to still run ok at other games although I don't feel 100% confident in any aspect of my game. I think the pressure of actually having to make money until I get a real job is affecting my play. I'm not sure. I'm up $1,600 on the month which is very good for me. However, I'd like to be up 3k next month or so. I had 2 -$500 days this month, so without those I'd be much more set. And really, with my stakes, I shouldn't have swings this bad. I'm playing 2/4 stud and 50nl hu. Those days are the days I decided to change it up and play 6 max after running poorly in those other games. Then run poorly there as well. But a nice amount in the black this month. I still have the rest of today and tomorrow to play. I need to get to gold star as well, then decide on what to spend my FPPs on...I have about 90k, any ideas? I think I'm just gonna do cash bonuses right now, it's probably smartest. I wish they had amazon gift certificates for americans, I don't get why they don't.

In other areas, I had a lot on my mind this week, and while I'd rather not discuss it publicly, the issues seem to be subsiding a bit. It has to do with my gf...everything is fantastic, but there's something I'm trying to shake because it's not an issue at all. But when you're told "don't think about a pink elephant" that's all you can think about. So hopefully it goes away, which I'm sure it will. And I decided to go watch the super bowl with her down in champaign this weekend. With everything I was thinking of this week, I want to see her more than anything right now. So I'm going early sunday morning. I was originally not going to go there this weekend, but that changed. I'm also going the following weekend, so it should be pretty fun. We're celebrating valentine's day early because she's going on vacation with her family over v-day and her bday...it sucks a little, but no biggie, we'll just celebrate v-day before she goes and her bday when she gets back. It gives me more time to get some things in order for her bday. I'm still unsure on presents, but I have some pretty awesome ideas.


That's all I got for now. I think it's time for a workout, then another poker session and then on to lucky's sandwich co. on clark tonight for this gloriousness:




It's the same primanti's bros. sandwich in pittsburgh that I've been dying to try. Apparently the guy who owns lucky's brought it over from pittsburgh. I saw it on man vs. food on the travel channel the other night. That show is incredibly awesome btw. I was a bit disappointed in the Chicago episode though. They went to al's italian beef (a fine choice), gino's east (standard) and lucky's for the 3 sandwich challenge. I was looking for something new/different in chicago though. I've had italian beef, deep dish pizza and the sandwich isn't even a Chicago staple. Oh well, I'm sure it's delish.