Hi folks,

here with the report of October which was other then any previous months because it contains a major portion of NL50 hands too. As you already know the first attemp to nl50 wasn't successful and I came back to reorganize my play at nl25 but haven't suceeded with it yet.

What i've lost at nl50 have won it on nl25, so the month is even (+5$ , lol) which means this was the 11th winner month in a row (i think after this month I should say "not losing month"). You will see on the graph that I am way over expectation so this shuold have been a loosing month.

Hi,

this morning had my first session at nl25 since coming back from nl50. I ran well, ended up just over 2bis but it could have been more if I dont make that play with QQ on a low board.
Actually it was a really good feeling to come back to the stakes where I spend much time from my poker carreer. This session I just played nl25 tables (max 6 of them) and won't add nl50 table until I reorganize my play. This session was a really exception I played 26/17 and honestly don't know how I managed that :-)

2 days left from this month, i'm -3bi total, i have a good chanche to show up with profit at the end of the month.

GL at the tables,
pocketfish

hi,

here to report about my progress. Playing on nl50 wasn't so bad lately but I wasnt able to show up with my best game so i've talked about this with my coach and decieded to move back to nl25 reorganize my play and start to add nl50 tables one-by-one if I feel i'm playing good.

The result of the first try is -2.5bi over 5k hands.

No bad feelings about moving down though, actually i'm excited about playing at nl25 again.
Hope i can bounce back rapidly.

until next time,
cya

Hi folks,

already played my session and it ended up with -1.5bi loss. Not a big deal right? There where some interesting hands, and I felt in two occasions that this could be a bad river call, but every time I kept the pot cheap with my TP and got min raised on the river and the only hand wich could beat me is a slowplayed set because 2 pairs where highly unlikely. Actually they flopped a set against me every time...
Today I was more satisfied (not satisfied) with my play then in the last sessions. Have to admit that this level made changes in my game and the stats show me just that. Will consult about this issue with Steve though 'cause the stats shoving deterioration and having lesser agression at this level is not the way to go. The issue is: is it worth to stay on the higher level and getting comfortable even with small loss or even, or is it better to move down and reorganize my play?
I feel myself in a good shape, didn't see the situtation tragic at all and doesn't concerned about moving down/staying at all. I know i'm on a good way anyway.

Let's see how it develops.

Until next time, cya
Robert

hi guys

wazzzuuup?
I'm trying to make a stand here on NL50 and the progress could be better to say the least. I'm slowly getting familiar with the frequent 3bets against me, find my targets, etc. What my problem is that i'm not playing good at all. I don't know why but i'm started to chasing odds (this wasn't the case at nl25), calling bets I shouldnt, making stupid plays. Maybe the bigger money influences me in a way that i'm taking lover chances just to be able to win big?
When I'm in a big pot I got comitted very easily unconciosly. This is not the play that afforded me to take a shot at this level. Have to reorganize my thoughts because all I can show up so far is C-game at best. Bad luck didn't help either but my play is what throws away the money.

So far i'm still at -2bi after 3.5k hands, much better result then the pace i'm playing right now.

Pull yourself together pocketfish.

c ya next time

Hi folks,

I guess today it's just wasn't meant to be. Played a short session (330 hands) and lost just over 2bi (-114$). Although it's just a standard losing day at nl50, it's my biggest loss moneywise so this one has set the pace.
I think I didn't played that well, bluffed away one bi, couldn't fold QQ to a low flop (got C/R on flop, and villain opened for half pot, and I decieded to shove) and finally my set gets crushed on a river to str8, actually he held the only possible hand which can beat me.
With that loss i'm in red at nl50, it's barely -2bi but have to set the mark just in case. Cause my BR allows me, I will move down to grind back at nl25 if my overall falls down to -8bi.
Mentally I'm not crushed or anything like that so don't worry about me. I'm really curious because haven't played my best at this level and want to see finally where i'm at if I play my best so this is a good motivation for me.

C Ya next time
Robert

Hi folks,

just wanted to give you some info about the transition process at the new level.
I only played 2k hands but already feeling ok with the bigger bets. It's interesting that I start every session bad and then a great comeback starts and everything is back on track for a while (comment: maybe I need 10-15 minutes before I reach my comfort level?)
I made a change in my ususal game plan after watching vitalmyth's new video which I think it's awesome. So I try to play as long as I'm able to play good but if I make a couple of mistakes or take some beats in a short time period I'll quit. Try to play more because the first half of the month was a joke pokerwise. After ~2k hands i'm even, it could have been a worse start so I'm OK with that.

That's it for this time, i'll try to update the blog more regulary because I think this new level thing is an interesting situation for all of us.

Enough said, GL at the tables!
Robert

Hi guys,

just want to give a short report from the 2 session i've played at NL50.
I played just 700 hands but if I look at my stats there is no sign of weakness at all. In fact they look very similar to the stats I had at NL25. Yeah I know this is a ridiculously small sample size but it gives me some good feedback to keep goin'.
I was alert but made some mistakes, but they didn't bother me more than they were at my old limit.
After 2 session I'm at +90$ and more than happy to continue to conquer NL50.

Cheers,
Robert

Play 1 session at nl50 -> DONE

This morning I assembled all my courage together and finally played my first session at the next level (NL50). In genereal I really couldn't ask for a better start (+2bi) but I think some of you can learn from mistakes I've made so i'll try my best to explain my thoughts about making the step to the next limit.

I've said to myself, first play only two tables, observe everything carefully, try to pick up some patterns. I think this was a much greater mistake than I've made in two sqeezed pots in this session. The worst thing you can make is to move out from your comfort zone. I can tell you it's really frightening to see two times bigger pots already and when you push yourself to concentrate 110%, observe 110% all you will get is struggling. I found myself just sitting there terrified, tried to jump in the level I think aswell. I pushed myself to overanalyze spots, made bistake, and these mistakes where two times more expensive as at my usual limits. Than I said to myself, this isn't right so, go back to your usual style or quit.

I chosed the first, continued the session, increased the number of tables to 4 (usually I play 6+ but I don't wanted to chase the devil) and tried to play my usual agressive game. Didn't care about the pot size or what I heard about the limit because You really have to experience for your self. Sure I have to make changes but first I just have to play my game to gain some controll and as you can see from the result it worked out.

About the bankroll. If you're not overrolled, and i mean REALLY overrolled you just can't ignore that you're playing for much bigger money. Be prepared for the bad/good excitement of greater pots because it will influence your play.

All in all, learn from my mistake:
DON'Ts
- don't change everything in your play (you will play a little tighter no matter how you try)
- don't drop the tables dramatically
- don't try to force you to think lines you not used to think
- don't think about how many hours you have to work to earn so much money which in the pot is
DOs
- play your usual style
- observe yourself how you're feeling, how the bigger stakes influences you

You can read several topic which dealing about this problem but You have to make this step. Be prepared for the bigger bets but play your usual game and it should work out for itself. Don't make your life harder as it is already.

I've talked about my opinion and expreience but if you have other advice feel free to comment.

Cheers,
Robert

Hey folks,

I had to travel to Bruessel this week (work issues), and cause of this crappy wheather we have here I decieded to play some poker at nights.
I sad goodbye to nl25 and wanted to start nl50 this month but here I wont jeopardize my full tilt account with this unsecure internet connection I have in my appartement, instead I will try to build a bankroll at Pacific in two nights which I would transfer immediately to full tilt after i'm back home again because I really dislike Pacific for some reasons.
I have 50$ for start, will see how it goes. I will play nl10 6max, hope i still have money tomorrow :-)

Tomorrow I will update the blog with the results.

*Update after day1 :
I played ~2 hours yesterday 4 tabling NL10 6max and lost 1.5 bi-s. I can't say I played my A game, but it wasn't bad at all just get into trouble with 2nd best hands against slow played monsters. After I decieded to play two MTTs but was busted out after the breaks in coinflip situations. Avaible br: 33$, see what i can do with it today.

*Update after day2:
I decieded to play only MTTs and bought in for a 22$ and a 11$ MTT in now or never mode, lol. I busted out without cashing so it's pretty much the last time I logged in to this site.