First Final Over

Finished in 1067th. Over 16,000 started! Played for 2h45mins. I was actually in about 400th when the key hand occurred. Had top pair (jacks) after a rainbow flop and went all-in. Got called by a suited A10 and he turned and rivered the two diamonds he needed to cut me down to almost nothing. Would have been in approx. 200th if I'd won that hand.

Better luck next time!

When it Rains, It Pours!

Late Saturday night (early Sunday morning) I played a couple more freeroll/fantasy point tournaments to qualify for a PCA final.

First one was a 120 person tournament with a 10 fantasy point entry fee. Top 20 move onto a final. Came in 11th and got a ticket to another final.

At the same time I entered a freeroll tournament. Field was 1500 people. Top 10 move onto a final. Came in 2nd and got another ticket to a final! The winner was some dude from Calgary. Small world.

So, tomorrow is final #1 @ 2pm (previously had a ticket for that one). Top 10 go to the Bahamas. BUT, there are already 6500 people registered! And its growing. Ugh.

The next two finals are Sunday, December 11th at 4am (yes, AM) and 2pm. Those are also the LAST opportunities to get into a final. So, I'm registered in both of those, but my workplace has a Christmas party for kids of the employees that day, so I won't be able to play in the 2pm game...hmmm...I wonder if anyone could play for me and split the prize??? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Finally!

Yeesh! Took me forever, but I finally got into one of the PCA Bahamas finals. Been playing freerolls and cheap entry tournaments off an on for a few weeks. This past weekend I entered a tournament with some 'frequent player points'...120 people...top 20 move on to a final. Odds are pretty decent. Ended up actually winning the whole tournament, but once we hit the top 20 there were 6 or 7 people that were clearly all-in and then out, because really there wasn't much more to play for (I did get $2.70 for finishing first).

So, the PCA final I'm entered into (they've been running for the past few weeks) is this Sunday afternoon. Looks like there is about 2000+ people entered right now. Will probably be closer to 3000 by the time it rolls around. Top 10 from this tournament get a PCA package...flight and accomodation in Nassua, The Bahamas, $1000 spending money, and a $10,000 entry into the main tournament. Ah, it would be so sweet just to go!

The PCA runs from Jan. 5th-14th.

Hit me Baby One More Time!

Made a paltry sum in a 50/Fifty game today. But, whatevs. A win is a win. The record is looking nice in that category! And now that I've said that...cue the downslide!

Starting Money: $20
$15 'Fifty50' Games Played: 6
Record: 5-1
Current Money: $298.56


Other tournaments played...

$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 2
Record:
3rd place=$340
8th place=Out of money
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $298.56

Still Playing!

I have been playing a lot of online poker despite the lack of posts. Just been entering a lot of 'freeroll' tournaments in a hopeless effort to win a trip to The Bahamas for the PCA tournament.

However, after a quick oust in a freeroll tonight, I dove back into the $15 madness and came away with a big win! Taking back $41 after the $15 buy in! Yay!

Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 2
Record:
3rd place=$340
8th place=Out of money
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$15 'Fifty50' Games Played: 5
Record: 4-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $293.90

And again...

Its $15 Fifty/50 time. Came away a winner in a relatively easy game. Was never in any real danger and was either in 1st or 2nd the whole way. Its nice to have games like that once in awhile...or all the time. Either or.

Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 2
Record:
3rd place=$340
8th place=Out of money
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$15 'Fifty50' Games Played: 4
Record: 3-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $269.11

Oh yeah...

...played a couple of 50/Fifty games last week and forgot to update. Went 1-1, but really shouldn't have been playing at all. Just wasn't in the right frame of mind. The second game was the real mistake, but the one I actually won at...lucky.

Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 2
Record:
3rd place=$340
8th place=Out of money
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$15 'Fifty50' Games Played: 3
Record: 2-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $250.45

$15 Fifty/50

Took a stab at my first $15 'Fifty/50' game tonight. Very tight game all around from everyone. My chips took a hit early on when my 99 failed against KK. But, I stuck around and built it back up enough to take 3rd place and a $24 share. Nice start to this level!

Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 2
Record:
3rd place=$340
8th place=Out of money
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$15 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $254.05

The Canada Cup: The Final Chapter

Here's the in-depth review of my last tournament in The Canada Cup.

$22 Turbo Tournament
Blinds go up every 5 minutes
Started with 1500 in chips
136 competitors
5 entries to the big tournament (2 hours away) and 6th place gets $70.

Played bad first two hands...probably shouldn't have been in the pots, but trying to make magic happen after my good fortune last night. Down to about 1300.

10 minutes in (blinds at 15/30) I get dealt AA...first to act, I just call hoping for a raise somewhere. Folds all the way around to the big blind who (thank God!) raises to 90. I take a long time, then re-raise all-in. He calls with QQ. No more queens and I'm up to 2600! Yay!

A few hands pass, but within 5 mins. I'm dealt AA again! This time I'm in the big blind. Player who is doing well with about 2000 in chips raises to 120. Folded around to me. I again take my time and then re-raise all-in. He calls with KK. No more kings and I'm up to 4600! Yay again!

Blinds 25/50. Dealt AK...its raised to 100. Everyone else folds...I call. K, blah, blah on the flop. He raises to 150. I call. nothing on the turn. He raises to 250. I re-raise all-in. He doesn't go for it, but I come away with a good pot.

Blinds 50/100. Dealt AQ of hearts. I call. Just me and one other guy. Two hearts on the flop + a king...check, check...turn is a heart! Check, check. River is a king. Check, I bet 200, he thinks for awhile, then calls. Another decent pot.

All this before the first break 20 minutes in to the tournament! Crazy. At the break I am at $5185 and in 2nd place out of 109. The leader has $5435.

Immediately after the break I laid down 10,10 to an all-in bet of 1900. Wrong? Guess, I'll never know, but wasn't interested in losing close to half my chips on a possible 50/50 proposition.

Table change. First hand dealt 7,7 in the big blind. Geez. Lots of pocket pairs in half an hour! (Brett you may be right about online play!) Folded to the small blind who goes all-in with 1700. This time I am suspicious and make the call. He has A9. No aces or nines come and I'm at 6886! Still in 2nd.

Blinds at 125/250. People are starting to go all-in more making it tough to see flops with decent, but not great hands. Down to 65 players 40 minutes in. I sit in 5th now. My table of 9 now has 3 other stacks of around 6000. Good potential to get more chips, but also to lose more!

Blinds up to 150/300 with a 25 ante. Every hand is worth at least 650 if you can get some steals.

Table change. Blinds at 200/400/50 ante. Every hand worth 1050. Not much happening for me anymore! I have 5736 and sit 14th out of 43. Patience!

Ugh. Bad hand. A3 spades. I raised to 800. Re-raised by small blind (and big stack at table) to 2000. I reluctantly call. Can't get run over all day! All red on the flop with a K and a J. He raises me all-in. Fold. Down to 2686. Currently in 29th out of 36. One double up gets me back in the race.

Blinds at 300/600/50ante. Dealt 46 off suit in the big blind. One caller...everyone else folds. Free flop! 10, 6, 6 on the flop! I check, he bets 1200. I just call leaving me with 800. 4 on the turn and I put the rest in to double up to 5572! Now 19th out of 31. Average stack is 7285. Leader is at 16930.

Table change. Blinds at 400/800/75.

Dealt KQ off suit in big blind 2nd hand in. Dealer at 1787 goes all in. I call and get that money! 7609 now. 12th out of 23.

Blinds at 500/1000/100. 14th out of 20.

Ugh. The blinds just went through me and with people all-in everywhere I had to give them up. 5434 now. 16th out of 18. Tick tock.

Blinds at 600/1200/125.
Blinds at 800/1600/150. My definitive all-in approaches as the blinds near me again. :-(

Here we go! J, 10 off suit in the big blind. One guy has raised to 3200. Another (the small blind) all in with 23,000! Now or never! I call. Other guy folds. I'm up against AA and out in 14th.

Well, it was an exciting ride! Too bad I couldn't have had those awesome early hands a little later on, but then maybe I wouldn't have been in the position I was to play them!

The Canada Cup Part 5

Tried my hand at the $55 tournament and could not get anything going. Final two hands I had AQ in both...ran in to AQ in the first one and split the pot...next hand I ran into AA. Same opponent for both.

Then gave a $5.50 tournament a shot, but again, nothing was happening. Final hand I had KJ suited and top pair after the flop. Went all in and got called by someone who had bottom pair. Looked good until the river when the other person hit trips.

This does not bode well for tonight! :-)

May try the last chance $22 tournament tomorrow.

The Canada Cup Part 4

Tournament: $5.50 on October 16th
Players: 231
Prizes Available for: The top 12
Prize: Free Entry for the top 12 to a $55 Satellite
My Finish: 23rd

Almost forgot to post about this one. This was the free entry I had won in the last post. Played well and just ran into some bad luck on my final hand. I had AK all-in and KJ called me. A jack hit and that was that.

Saturday at 4pm will probably be my last shot at the $55 tournament if I dare. There is also a $22 'last chance' qualifier on Sunday before the big tournament that guarantees at least 5 qualifying spots. But, it is a turbo tournament...blinds go up every 5 minutes as opposed to every 10 minutes in the $55 tournament. I will see how the day goes, I guess, as to whether I play or not.

PCA (Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure) qualifying has also begun. Looks like the price might be a little more to get into some of these qualifying tournaments...I don't see the freerolls/freebuys that The Canada Cup was offering.

The Canada Cup Part 3

Tournament: Freebuy on October 11th
Players: 1833
Prizes Available for: The top 14
Prize: Free Entry for the top 14 to a $5.50 Satellite
My Finish: Top 14!

First of all...full disclosure here...I played in several free satellite tournaments tonight. HOWEVER, all of the ones previous to the above were during 'kids time' and making dinner (the wife was working tonight), so I was basically playing crazily and calling or going all in with insane odds while building towers with blocks! It showed, since I bowed out early in all of those. When the kids went to bed I gave this tournament a real shot and the results showed. Yes, I also got lucky on a couple of occasions, but I like to think I actually played pretty well, too! :-)

I hung on for dear life at the end, though. I was way up in chips and pretty much decided to shut it down unless I got something extra special and it almost cost me. Finished 14th out of the 14 qualifiers.

Funny enough, I have actually been considering entering a couple of $5.50 tournaments to try to get back to the $55 stage before laying down another $55 outright. So, now I can try that at least once for free. But not until probably the weekend. Life is getting in the way of poker!!! :-)

The Canada Cup Part 2

Tournament: $55 Satellite on October 10th
Players: 32
Prizes Available for: The top 4
Prize: Top 3 get free entry to the final tournament (worth $530). 4th place gets $10 (not a misprint).
My Finish: 8th!

I was cruising along in 3rd to 4th spot with 8 players left. The guy with the 2nd most chips (about double mine) goes all in before the flop. I am in the small blind and call with my QQ. He has 99. He hits another 9 on the turn. Sometimes poker isn't fair. That one hand really was a killer. If I had won it, it would have taken some really bad luck to not finish in the top 3 and move on. Why go all in with 99 there when you have the 2nd most chips and 5 people left to act behind you? Seems like a normal raise to see where you're at would suffice or even a call to try and catch a 9 on the flop...then if someone raises you all in before the flop for half your chips you can really think about whether it is worth sacrificing your 2nd place position on a pair of nines. Maybe this thinking is why I finished in 8th??? :-)

Try it again? It seems like I am super close, but maybe I've just been lucky? Friday will be the next time I'm available to try if I do go for it.

Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 2
Record:
3rd place=$340
8th place=Out of money
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $329.35

The Canada Cup

I haven't been playing any $7 games for awhile. I've been busy with the "Pokerstars Canada Cup." The main tournament is a $530 entry fee and the last 9 players left (the final table) will stop play and finish the tournament in The Bahamas in January. Flight and hotel (the Atlantis Resort in Nassau) are paid for.

Of course, I don't think I would ever pay that much for a tournament entry fee (never say never, though). So, I've been playing in the free "step" qualifiers. This is how they go...

Step 1: Freebuy Super Satellite tournament with entry to...
Step 2: $5.50 Satellite tournament with entry to...
Step 3: $55 Satellite tournament with entry to...
Step 4: $530 Final Tournament...top 9 go to the Bahamas to win a share of $250,000

Step 1: Freebuy on October 1st
Players: 1703
Prizes Available for: The top 17
Prize: Free Entry to a $5.50 Satellite
My Finish: Top 17!

Step 2: $5.50 Satellite on October 2nd
Players: 216
Prizes Available for: The top 19
Prize: Free Entry to a $55 Satellite
My Finish: Top 19!

Step 3: $55 Satellite on October 7th
Players: 28
Prizes Available for: The top 3
Prize: Top 2 get free entry to the final tournament. 3rd place gets $340.
My Finish: 3rd!

Dear Lord I was close! (not that i won't take the $340). But, MAN I was close! Down to the final 3 and I had a guy out chipped and he was all-in before the flop. He had an A3 suited and I called him with AQ...he flops a flush! Shortly after, I was all-in with QJ vs. pocket 10s and it didn't happen for me. Oh well. I did catch some breaks here and there on the way to 3rd, so can't complain about my luck too much. Seemed like a really really loose game for only 28 players and so much on the line, though! I just kind of sat back and played nothing for a long time unless it was a premium premium hand. Everybody else seemed content to pick each other off.

Now the debate...just pony up the $55 cash for another satellite and take a stab at making it to the final tournament again? I'm tempted to do it at least once since I can use the 3rd place windfall to finance it. The $55 tournaments are twice a day on the weekends and once a day during the week. The final tournament goes on October 23rd with the final 9 players finishing the game in the Bahamas on January 9th.

Stay tuned!

Starting Money: $20
$55 'Canada Cup Satellite' Games Played: 1
Record: 3rd place=$340
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $384.35

A win, but little else...

Was about to take home a monster pot and eliminate 2 people at once to close out a $7 game tonight, but the river crushed that and although I did still finish in the money, I really only made about $1. Looks good to add a 'W' to the record, though.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $44.85

Train kept a Rollin'

Another $7 game in the books and I am now above .500 in that category for the first time! It looked bleak early on as you may recall.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 9
Record: 5-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $43.97

Playing Poker

Well, I guess its only been 10 days or so since my last game. Felt like longer. Not that I haven't wanted to play...just been busy with other stuff. Also have gotten back into the live poker with the "Big Slick" Wednesday tournaments the last couple of weeks. But, that's another post for another time. For now, I went back to the $7 Fifty/50 game on Pokerstars. And for the first time in a LONG time, the all-in 50/50 matchups were going my way! This of course lead to a nice payday. Yay! Also brings the $7 record to .500.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 8
Record: 4-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $39.58

Back at 'Er!

Got back in the game (even if it might be with fictitious money!) tonight and got in back in the money.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 7
Record: 3-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $29.35

Early Exit

Didn't play a hand until I got AA...up against the smallest stack...he went all-in after the flop and I lost to a straight on the river. Couple of hands later I put what I had left in with 44 and lost to a pair of tens. Oh well. I needed to get to bed early anyway.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 6
Record: 2-4
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $23.06

Two in a Row!

Another $7 money cash. Not too much drama here. Didn't do too much. Won a few early pots and wasn't in much danger after that.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 5
Record: 2-3
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $30.06

Finally!

Yes, I have broken through the $7 Fifty/50 barrier. Finally got in the money in a game tonight, but once again, it helps to be dealt QQ, KK, AA. Really makes you wonder about these internet games. I play a live game for 3-4 hours and MAYBE see one of those hands...not 3 to the same person!

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 4
Record: 1-3
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $27.38

Bad Luck Against Trips...Can't Catch a Break

Moved up to the $7 Fifty50 games today. Couple of quick exits as I ended up against trips both times. Arrghhh! Second time I figured I was behind, but I had middle pair and an open ended straight draw. Figured I had 13 outs (which I did after the flop...opponent hit trips on the turn), but none came. Frustrating. Might try another one later tonight.

Tried another one. Doubled up after getting pretty low, then had a chance to get in the money by calling an all in with my AK...opponent had AQ. They caught a queen on the turn. I was out a few hands later.

The play seems a lot tighter at the $7 tables than the $3.50, which is fine. I'll be going down in flames at this limit, because I really don't see why I shouldn't be winning some of these games if I keep playing properly. Got enough cash left for 2 more games.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$7 'Fifty50' Games Played: 3
Record: 0-3
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $20.90

Goal Achieved! 20-10!

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 30
Record: 20-10
Current Money: $41.90

1 More Loss...and more.

Lost a $3.50 game, then decided to play in one of those 'turbo' tournaments and threw down a whopping $6 total. NOT FOR ME! Those things quickly turn into all-in fests and the two times I went all-in I ran up against AA and KK. Real lucky tonight! :-) Oh well...at least I know to stay away from those tournaments. Dropped my total money down to just over $40, but whatevs. $3.50 record stands at 19-10...will I win that next one to get to my goal of 20-10???

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 29
Record: 19-10
Current Money: $40.92

1 More Win

I am once again over the $50 mark. Is this the start of the climb to $60? Let's hope so this time.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 28
Record: 19-9
Current Money: $50.68

I'm no longer Fifty!

Bit of a heart breaker tonight. Was playing pretty well for the most part. One hand put me back down amongst the bottom three with 6 left. But, I still had around 1600 in chips vs. the low stack of around 700. Dealt an AK suited (hearts)...raised double the blind...got one caller (the big stack of 5600)...two hearts on the flop...he raised me all in...i called and didn't see another heart or AK. He won with a pair of Jacks. That was a tough call on the bubble. But, I did have two over cards and a flush draw...approximately 15 outs! So, it was probably the right call technically, but when you're on the bubble its still a tough one. Don't feel too bad about it.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 27
Record: 18-9
Current Money: $47.78

I'MMMMMM FIFTY!!!!

Yes, the immortal words of Sally O'Mally rang in my head at the end of my game tonight as I climbed back over the $50 mark. Playing like a robot is working. Going to go with it until things start to crumble!

Here's Sally if you have no idea who I'm talking about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiehDcVZ-vA

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 26
Record: 18-8
Current Money: $51.28

I am a Robot

That was my strategy going into my 2nd game today. Play like a robot. No risky plays. No calling in the small blind with 8-2 just because I'm half committed. No falling in love with hands. And it worked! It was pretty dry for a long time, though, while my alter ego robot personality waited, but it was worth it.

Inching back to $50.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 25
Record: 17-8
Current Money: $49.50

I Blew Up.

Oh man. I was CRUISING in a game this morning. Well ahead of everyone. 7 players left. Made a good size raise and got called. Flop revealed nothing of significance for a raise that high, so I put the other guy all in (about 1/3 of my chips). He called and had pocket aces. Still have a good number of chips left (2200). Two hands later, same deal...I have KQ, make significant raise, flop reveals nothing significant, so I go all in and get called by an AK that holds up. Lame. Dumb play. Interesting call by the other guy, though. I guess seeing how I had just put the other guy all in previously with nothing really maybe gave him a clue. Still pretty risky though.

You live and learn. Hopefully.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 24
Record: 16-8
Current Money: $46.80

Breaking 50! ...barely

After a horrendous night of real poker, I almost had a horrendous online poker game. Was cruising with 6 people left, but the lower stacks just kept hanging around and exchanging double ups until I was left as a low stack of $173 after my AQ lost to a 63 off suit. Lucky to get a triple up a few hands later, then another double up before someone else bowed out and ended the game. Squeaked by the $50 mark in the process.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 23
Record: 16-7
Current Money: $50.40

Moving on Up!

I had planned my next post to be all about how its now much harder to move up 'money-wise' on pokerstars if you are just playing the Fifty/50 games then it used to be. Then I won $9+ in a game tonight bringing me agonizingly close to the $50 overall mark! Post topic no longer as relevant. FYI: You know what can help you win a lot of money at poker? Being dealt QQ, KK, AA, and AK. It also helps that 3 out of those 4 times people either go all in or call your own all in!

Its still true, though. The entry fee is always $3.50, but your winnings vary from $0 (yes, that actually happened one game when I was put out at the same time as another guy who had less chips then me...so, technically I lost money since pokerstars takes a quarter as part of the entry fee---i got $3.25 back for that game. On another note this is the longest explanation in parentheses ever!) all the way to the $9+ range. But, usually I find I'm getting my $3.50 back + around $2 on average. You really do need to win twice as many games as you lose to move up with any kind of momentum.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 22
Record: 15-7
Current Money: $49.32

Look Ma! I'm a human yo-yo!

That's how it feels sometimes. Finished in the money in the only game I played tonight. Nothing too dramatic.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 21
Record: 14-7
Current Money: $43.26

0-2 Today. Ugly.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 20
Record: 13-7
Current Money: $41.25

What can you do?

First hand of a $3.50 Fifty/50. Starting with $1500 in chips. I'm dealt AcAh. Folded to me. I just call ($30). Folded to big blind who raises double the big blind ($60). I raise to $290. He calls. Flop is 4, 6, K...all clubs. Not too bad. I've got the nut flush draw even if this guy has two clubs already or 3 of a kind. He bets, I raise, he re-raises, I go all in , he calls. He has 3 kings. No clubs come on the turn or river and in one hand I am out of the tournament.

What can you do?

Played a 2nd game and struggled to the money, but feel good about sticking it out, when it would have been easy to throw in the towel on a few occasions.

Dominated the 3rd game winning my biggest payday at this level yet ($9.56).

And struggled to the money again in the 4th game of the day! Its amazing how you can go from unlucky to struggling to dominant to struggling! What the hell??? But, after all is said and done it was a 3-1 day, so I can't complain too much. Close to breaking $50!

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 18
Record: 13-5
Current Money: $48.25

Breaking 40

2-1 today. Ugh. That loss today was some painfully bad poker on my part.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 14
Record: 10-4
Current Money: $43.78

So close...

...to the $40 mark! Exciting! ;-) 2-0 in the $3.50 games today. I've decided I'd like to get to at least 20-10 in that category, see where I'm at money wise, and go from there. Maybe move up to $7 games. We'll see. Might want the bank to hit $100 (if possible) before I do that.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 12
Record: 8-4
Current Money: $39.76

When playing poker...

...don't play wii at the same time. 1-1 today.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 10
Record: 6-4
Current Money: $35.85

One more game.

Uneventful game of $3.50 50/Fifty tonight. Finished 4th.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 8
Record: 5-3
Current Money: $39.59

WiNnInG!

How much of these poker games on the internet come down to luck? Its definitely a part of the game. Not only getting the right cards to play, but also having an opponent who is willing to play with you when you know you've got him beat. Patience is definitely a factor, but with escalating blinds and games finished within an hour on pokerstars, if you haven't built a decent stack or just had a run of bad luck early on, then by the near-end of the game you could be really screwed no matter how smart you played.

I was reminded of that tonight when playing a game of $3.50 Fifty/50. Won a decent pot early on, then hung around as 4 of the 10 players went away. With 6 players left (on the bubble!) play tightened up quite a bit and I was close to the bottom if not at the bottom for the most part. But a couple of wins gave me breathing room and the ability to force the action. That's always nice. But, what goes up must come down and I finally did what I am loathe to do...small blind vs me (big blind)...small blind puts me all in and I have AJ suited...reluctantly make the call vs. 99. End up hitting an ace and the rest is history. I came in 1st in the tournament. Mostly because of that double up and the power it game me the rest of the way (raising, etc). However, I could have just as easily been out during that all-in. 50/50. Unless you are desperate, is there ever a good reason to make a call when you figure you are at best 50/50 to win the pot (and stay alive!)? Should I have made that call? AJ isn't super strong by any means. The other person could have easily had AK, AQ, AA, KK, QQ, JJ, which all dominate me. Or they could have a pair (like they did) and at best I am 50/50. What are the chances its a pure bluff? Probably low since we're all on the bubble and one big mistake can take any one of us to the bottom. So, why did I do it? Mostly because I never thought that deeply about it before I made the call! :-) But, partly because the small blind had pulled this all-in move on me a few times before this and you can't just let them get away with that all night...especially when you have a decent hand. Or can you?

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 7
Record: 4-3
Current Money: $37.91

Loss-Quick Update

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 6
Record: 3-3
Current Money: $32.22

Back to the 6 man Tables!

Well I put a big chunk on the line tonight...$1.50 in a 6 man game. Managed to win it after some ups and downs. Was down 6500-1500 when heads up play began, so I have to be pretty happy with that. A win is a win no matter what the stakes!

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$1.50 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($5.46)-1
2nd ($2.94)-0
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 5
Record: 3-2
Current Money: $35.72

2 more games

Nothing exciting. Won one and lost one at the $3.50 50/Fifty.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 5
Record: 3-2
Current Money: $32.18

I'm Back???

For some reason, I am starting to get the itch to play more poker again. Both live and online. I don't know why. Perhaps it is a desperate need for money? Ha! Well sure, but that's not really all there is. I think it is more just wanting to get better at it. I've been playing poker for 4 years now and though I think I have improved from those early days, I'd have to say that things have kind of stagnated for me lately. Which can be kind of boring. And I like poker, so I don't want it to be boring. Time to change things up and actually put an effort in to get better instead of thinking it will happen naturally. That means playing more poker and actually thinking about the game instead of just putting it in cruise control and betting pairs, suited connectors, and A-picture card while watching Pawn Stars! Will I actually do it? Probably not, but at least I know that's the direction I should be headed in.

Having said all that, I dipped back into Pokerstars today for a $3.50 50/50 game and came in 2nd for a $6.70 share of the prize money. What will happen next?

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 3
Record: 2-1
Current Money: $33.76

2 months?

2 Months since my last game! Apparently you can't stay away from Pokerstars for long or they'll change all the games on you. There are no more $5 'Fifty50' games. There are now $7 or $3.50 games. I partook in two $3.50 games tonight finishing in the money in one and out in another. The 'Fifty50' games have 10 players...top 5 get their money back + .10 for every 100 chips. So, it encourages some aggressive play to build those chip stacks.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 5
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
$3.50 'Fifty50' Games Played: 2
Record: 1-1
Current Money: $30.75

2 $6 Losses

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 3
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-3
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
Current Money: $29.86

2 More 6-Man $6 Games

Not a great first game. Finished out of the money in 5th. Was doing pretty well in the 2nd game. Down to the final three, put another guy all in with the best hand, and got crushed on the river. Put me down to $385 with blinds at 75/150 and the other two guys with stacks around 6000 and 1500. Several double ups later I WON the F$%^er! Excuse my french.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 3
1st ($23.40)-1
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-1
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
Current Money: $41.86

Pokerstars $6 - 6 Man Game

Also tried a $6 - 6 man NL tournament tonight. Top 2 places get paid. 1st-$23.40. 2nd-$12.60. Ended up finishing 2nd. Was all in and needed a heart to win it all but couldn't get one on the turn or river.

Starting Money: $20
$20 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$6 - 6 Man NL Tournament Games Played: 1
1st ($23.40)-0
2nd ($12.60)-1
Out of money-0
$5 'Double or Nothing' Games Played: 37
Record: 24-12
$5 'Fifty50' Games Played: 1
Record: 1-0
Current Money: $31.66

Pokerstars $5 Game

While I was on my 'sabbatical' Pokerstars did away with their 'Double or Nothing' format games. They are now doing what they call "Fifty50" games. It is still a 10 person table and the top 5 still get paid. But, the $50 pot is divided up as $5 for each survivor PLUS .16 cents for every 100 chips you have left. It's interesting, but I'm not sure I'm going to like it. It definitely plays for the aggressor. However, it will take a lot longer to build up a bankroll if you aren't finishing in the top 2 or 3 positions every time. Anyway, I tried one out that went incredibly quickly...lasting 12 minutes! Maybe that was a weird game, but the previous 'Double or Nothing' games were usually in the 45-60mins range. Maybe that's why Pokerstars ditched them...more games, more money (for them!). Played the two hands in which I was in the blinds (didn't win either) and came away with $7.35. That's a nice $2 profit! :-P

Starting Money: $20
$20 Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$5 Games Played: 37
Record: 25-12
Current Money: $25.66

Big Slick

Small update for the Big Slick weekly game...

The league started up again 5 weeks ago, but I've only made one event due to various family and laziness reasons. :-)

However, I did have a very memorable hand when I did play! Here's the scenario...

My cards had been sucking hard for over an hour since we began. The only 2 or 3 pots I won were pure bluffs and my original stack of 5000 had come down to 4000. Doesn't sound too bad, but meanwhile everyone else is slowly building their own stacks. Anyway, there are 5 people left at my table and the short stack is on the button...I'm in the big blind for 400 already. Everyone folds to the short stack who goes all in for his last 1200. The small blind folds. I think for a long time about my lowly 2-3 off suit. I'm already in for 400...the cards have not been going my way...maybe its time to get lucky...or go home. So, I eventually make the ridiculous call figuring at least I'll two live cards. The button turns over a Q - 10 off suit and the semi-race is on.

First card on the flop...a 3!! Things are looking good!

Second card on the flop...a Q!! The tides have turned back.

Third card on the flop...another 3!! Sweet! Can only be beaten by another Q now!

Turn card...a 2! Full House! But, another Q will still beat me with a higher full house. Can you guess what's next?

River card...Yup. A Queen. Just an indication of how my night went.

Got everything in a few hands later with J-10 suited against 7-7 and made the early exit.

Current Standings...I've got a long way to come back!

1. John 3450
2. Ken 3050
3. Larry 2850
4. Katherine 2700
15. Dave 150 (not a typo)

Where I've Been...

...right here. Just seemed to have lost the itch to play for the last while. Massive losing streaks will do that, I guess! :-)

I'll update when I get back at it.

Big Slick Final Standings

I wasn't at the last game on Wednesday, but I had a pretty comfortable lead going in. The only person who could catch me in the standings would have had to win the last game of this session in order to pass me. Well, it happened! Kind of a shame. Even though I can't make the finals it would have been nice to finish first. All I would have had to do was show up and I would have got a minimum of 150 points. Next session!

Final Standings...

1. Katherine 7150
2. AvenueDave 7050
3. Sharon 5850
4. Larry 5800
5. Nelson 5700

Last Game of Big Slick...

...for me in this round of play. I'm not playing next week, there is no game the week after that, and I'm out of town the week after that! Played the game pretty loose yesterday as the #1 position was all but sewn up (2nd place person would have to win next week to pass me) and I am unable to make the final playoffs anyway. Resulted in an early double up, but ultimately an 8th place finish out of 10. Lots of fun, though!

Current Standings...

1. AvenueDave 7050
2. Katherine 5950
3. Nelson 5550
4. Larry 5400
5. Cory 5300

Back to $5 Double or Nothings

Game 1...early...maybe third hand. Got dealt pocket jacks...flop 8c7c3d...turn 6d...other guy put it all in and I called. He had Ad5d and got a diamond on the river to oust me!

Game 2...lasted awhile, but my pocket nines ran into pocket aces and that was that.

Starting Money: $20
$20 Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$5 Games Played: 36
Record: 24-12
Current Money: $23.61

#1 in the Land of the Big Slick!

A tournament win in a field of 16 this past Wednesday has strengthened my overall standings lead! Now, its really a shame I won't be at the finals. :-(

1. AvenueDave 6750
2. Katherine 5050
3. Nelson 4950
4. Larry 4900
5. Cory 4600

Big Slick Update

Whew! Been letting the Big Slick updates slide! Finished 6th in last Wednesday's tournament. Standings below.

Standings with total Points

1. AvenueDave 5550
2. Nelson 4800
3. Larry 4750
4. Katherine 4650
5. Cory 4100

And now the bad news. I've just learned that the area finals I've been working towards will be on a day when I'm out of town! Booooo!

Oops!

I was so distraught over my recent online play, that I forgot to post last week's Big Slick results! Came in 2nd out of the 11 and extended my overall lead.

Standings with total Points

1. AvenueDave 5050
2. Nelson 4650
3. Katherine 4050
4. Sharon 3700
5. Larry 3550

TILT TILT TILT

0-2 in the $5 games tonight. Not playing very patiently. Making bad calls. I should go to bed. Instead I am trying a $20 double or nothing...results below...

Lost the $20 game early when my pocket Jacks lost to pocket Aces.

It may be time to stop playing for awhile!

Starting Money: $20
$20 Games Played: 1
Record: 0-1
$10 Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$5 Games Played: 34
Record: 24-10
Current Money: $41.30

Back to 5

First stab at the $5 games in awhile. Played pretty well in the first game...except for one hand. And it cost me. Didn't bust out that hand, but gave up too many chips and was later busted with my 88 vs. K9.

Second game started off much better! First hand was KK...I raised 4x the big blind, was re-raised another 3x, I called. Flop of 8KQ with 2 spades...I bet about 1/3 of the pot, get raised, I go all in, and get called. Other player had KQ with no spades. I should double up in the first hand more often! Makes the game so much easier.

Starting Money: $20
$10 Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$5 Games Played: 32
Record: 24-8
Current Money: $74.30

Stick a Fork In Me!

I'm done! Played 2 more $10 games simultaneously and lost both. Coincidentally, I had AK suited within 30 seconds in both games...got all in before the flop in both games and, of course, lost both. Lost to pocket kings in one and pocket tens in the other. Both of the other guys flopped 3 of a kind. I did still have 4 to a flush in one hand, but it didn't happen.

So, back I go to the $5 games. I'm not as disappointed as I thought I'd be. Clearly, for whatever reason, I did much better at the $5 games. I really do think a lot of it was luck and that over a longer haul things would have turned in favour of me in the $10 games, but this is poker. Strange things happen. Funny that I will be going back to the $5 games after playing exactly 30 games in the $10 format though. Hopefully, my record is as good as it was the last time I played 30 $5 games.

Starting Money: $20
$10 Games Played: 30
Record: 15-15
$5 Games Played: 30
Record: 23-7
Current Money: $75.10

Hanging in There

Figured if I lost my next two $10 games that I'd be relegated to the $5 games (as is my plan), so why not go out in style? Tried my hand at playing two games at once! Seemed alright actually. Not too difficult, I don't think. Lost one and won one, so I may try it again next time. Did get the chance to see AQ of diamonds go all in against K of clubs, K of hearts. Flop is 97K of diamonds...see where I'm going here? Turn is J of diamonds...River is 10 of diamonds! Only in online poker folks!

Starting Money: $20
$10 Games Played: 28
Record: 15-13
$5 Games Played: 30
Record: 23-7
Current Money: $96.80

#1 @ Big Slick

Another good night at the Big Slick tournament with a 3rd place finish again this week. That was enough to vault me into 1st position overall. Was lucky enough to get dealt AA with just four of us left and got everything in against A3 to lock up the 3rd spot. Was doing alright from there until I tried to bluff out the blinds with K3 and the big blind ended up having AK! End of the night for me!

Standings with total Points

1. AvenueDave 4150
2. Nelson 3850
3. Sharon 3550
4. Larry 3050
5. Cory 2900

0-2

Arrghhhh! There's nothing worse than a 6th place finish when the top 5 get paid! Played well up until the end. Made a mistake in one hand and it dropped me down the ladder from 2nd to 5th...then out.

0-2 tonight. Shouldn't have played that 2nd one.

Starting Money: $20
$10 Games Played: 26
Record: 14-12
$5 Games Played: 30
Record: 23-7
Current Money: $98.30

What Goes Around...and More!

Three games of $10 double or nothing tonight!

Game 1...My pocket Qs got raised before the flop. I elected to just call and see if an A or K came up on the flop before proceeding. Q39 on the flop. Checked to me and I put the other guy all-in. He called with pocket 3s. No miracle 3 this time! Cruised to the end from there.

Game 2...Lost an early all in when my 3 queens (yes, 3 queens again) lost to a straight.

Game 3...Biggest win ever! Ended the tournament with $9794! There are only $15,000 in chips at the entire table and there were still 4 other guys left in play when it ended. They, obviously, each had around $1000.

On a side note, I've noticed quite a few 'regulars' at the $10 tables now. I see the same 3 or 4 people so frequently that I decided to look a couple of them up. You can search the tables on pokerstars for players that you know and find out where they are playing. One guy was playing 16 ten dollar tables AT THE SAME TIME! Wow! As far as I can tell you can't see the results without 'going to each table' and observing each game, so I don't know how many of those games he won, but I have to assume he is doing pretty well or he wouldn't be playing that many tables, no?

Starting Money: $20
$10 Games Played: 24
Record: 14-10
$5 Games Played: 30
Record: 23-7
Current Money: $140 (theoretically)...$119.90 (reality)...i'll be posting reality from now on, because...

...its time to adjust for all the rakes that pokerstars has been taking from me over these last 54 games. 54 games! Man! When I typed that out I realized how much I've been playing. Seems a little crazy! Not as crazy as the dude playing 16 games at once, but still. It's been a pretty enjoyable run so far, though. I've stalled a bit at the $10 level, but I've still got my head above water and feel like a breakthrough is right around the corner. I've suffered some bad beats here and there, so I think my $10 record should probably be a little better than it currently is. Onward and upward. I've got 1 win in a row!

I Ha8 Eights!

Ready for the bad beat stories???

Early in game 1 I had pocket 8s...8, 4, J on the flop...get all in against pocket 4s...another 4 on the turn! I'm done!

Early in game 2 I had pocket 8s...K, J, 8 on the flop...get all in against pccket kings. I'm done!

Game three was better. Doubled up early instead and rode out a win. One game win streak!!!

Starting Money: $20
$10 Games Played: 21
Record: 12-9
$5 Games Played: 30
Record: 23-7
Current Money: $130

Big Slick Leaderboard

The Big Slick poker league standings came in. I'm currently sitting in 2nd place overall after a 3rd place finish (out of 14) in the past week's tournament. Fairly uneventful tournament really, from my perspective. Played pretty solidly, but got short stacked with about 6 players left after losing to a straight (i had 2 pair). From there I just kind of hung around, but never really became a threat to the two biggest stacks at the table.

Standings with total Points

1. Nelson 3450
2. AvenueDave 3350
3. Cory 2750
4. Katherine 2700
5. Jim 2700
6. Sharon 2650

More $10 Double or Nothing

2 more games tonight. Couple of tough, tight tables in the early going for both games. Came out ahead in each one and am determined to get a little win streak going. Two in a row baby!

Starting Money: $20
$10 Games Played: 18
Record: 11-7
$5 Games Played: 30
Record: 23-7
Current Money: $140

I'm Back!

Back at the $10 extravaganza after a holiday break. Played a late game tonight and lost on a pocket 10s vs AJ hand. Was tempted to play again, but was getting tired and decided to pack it in for the night. DON'T PLAY TIRED! It leads to bad decisions!

Starting Money: $20
$10 Games Played: 16
Record: 9-7
$5 Games Played: 30
Record: 23-7
Current Money: $120

Also played in the Big Slick game tonight. I'll post the results when the week's standings are finalized.