Time to call it a day ?

Regular readers, whom number very few, will have noticed the blog has not been updated for about three weeks.
In fact I have not even played a hand of poker for two complete weeks until yesterday.
Friday night I tried the £4k Gtd on Crypto and went out in three hands when I got unecessarily involved in a 4 way raise-fest with KTon a TJK flop.
Today I played the $10k Gtd on Pokerstars lasting two and a half hours before I reraised pre-flop with 77 while short stacked, pushed all in after my opponent checked a 668 flop, only to be called by AQ (you know the rest)
I also played the $10 deepstack on Pokerstars lasting over 3 hours before my KK was turned over by AQ (all in pre-flop)
Its not much fun at all, I didn't even miss it when I had 2 weeks off, I only played today because it was raining and I was bored.
Looking at my profit graph since I started in Feb 2005 I'm beginning to wonder if I can actually make a profit at thius game at all, 2005's profit was on the back of Betfairs birthday celebrations and the added value tournaments, 2006's profit would have been decimated if not for Mansions staff freeroll which netted me nearly £1k, and this year has been an unmitigated disaster.

Much as I admire the people who can make a steady profit, or even a living from the game, Im starting to realise that I'm not one of them. I'm keen, I'm enthusiastic, but ultimately I dont have the skill of Baretta, Dibble or Gatsby to make a regular profit.
I'm going to have another spell off and see if the enthusiasm returns, but if not, and this seems likely, this will be the end of the blog, at least as a record of my poker achievements.
Thanks for reading, and the best of luck to you all.

When your lucks out.........

Apologies for more hand histories
Not even bad beats really, and just a $5 sit and go, but two hands in quick succession show the importance of a little luck in poker

PokerStars Game #9060675355: Tournament #46057902, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/03/24 - 05:44:07 (ET)
Table '46057902 1' 9-max Seat #3 is the button
Seat 2: zhaozhao12 (2650 in chips)
Seat 3: Doris_All_In (145 in chips)
Seat 4: FU808 (1990 in chips)
Seat 5: TheConArtist (1095 in chips)
Seat 7: holker (2365 in chips)
Seat 8: Joe Momma13 (2865 in chips)
Seat 9: spindrifter (2390 in chips)
FU808: posts small blind 25
TheConArtist: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to holker [Ac Ah]
holker: calls 50
Joe Momma13: folds
Doris_All_In said, "3 suckouts"
spindrifter: calls 50
zhaozhao12: calls 50
Doris_All_In: raises 50 to 100
FU808: folds
TheConArtist: raises 995 to 1095 and is all-in
holker: raises 995 to 2090
spindrifter: folds
zhaozhao12: folds
Doris_All_In: calls 45 and is all-in
*** FLOP *** [Kh Jc Kd]
*** TURN *** [Kh Jc Kd] [2h]
*** RIVER *** [Kh Jc Kd 2h] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
TheConArtist: shows [Ad Ks] (three of a kind, Kings)
holker: shows [Ac Ah] (two pair, Aces and Kings)
TheConArtist collected 1900 from side pot
Doris_All_In: shows [2s 5d] (two pair, Kings and Deuces)
Doris_All_In is sitting out
TheConArtist collected 560 from main pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2460 Main pot 560. Side pot 1900. Rake 0
Board [Kh Jc Kd 2h 8s]
Seat 2: zhaozhao12 folded before Flop
Seat 3: Doris_All_In (button) showed [2s 5d] and lost with two pair, Kings and Deuces
Seat 4: FU808 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: TheConArtist (big blind) showed [Ad Ks] and won (2460) with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 7: holker showed [Ac Ah] and lost with two pair, Aces and Kings
Seat 8: Joe Momma13 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: spindrifter folded before Flop



PokerStars Game #9060704830: Tournament #46057902, $5.00+$0.50 Hold'em No Limit - Level III (25/50) - 2007/03/24 - 05:49:35 (ET)
Table '46057902 1' 9-max Seat #8 is the button
Seat 2: zhaozhao12 (2750 in chips)
Seat 4: FU808 (1890 in chips)
Seat 5: TheConArtist (2610 in chips)
Seat 7: holker (1470 in chips)
Seat 8: Joe Momma13 (2590 in chips)
Seat 9: spindrifter (2190 in chips)
spindrifter: posts small blind 25
zhaozhao12: posts big blind 50
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to holker [Jd Ah]
FU808: folds
TheConArtist: folds
holker: raises 100 to 150
Joe Momma13: folds
spindrifter: folds
zhaozhao12: calls 100
*** FLOP *** [Jh 7h 5s]
zhaozhao12: bets 350
holker: raises 350 to 700
zhaozhao12: raises 350 to 1050
holker: raises 270 to 1320 and is all-in
zhaozhao12: calls 270
*** TURN *** [Jh 7h 5s] [Kc]
*** RIVER *** [Jh 7h 5s Kc] [8s]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
zhaozhao12: shows [Kh Js] (two pair, Kings and Jacks)
holker: shows [Jd Ah] (a pair of Jacks)
zhaozhao12 collected 2965 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 2965 Rake 0
Board [Jh 7h 5s Kc 8s]
Seat 2: zhaozhao12 (big blind) showed [Kh Js] and won (2965) with two pair, Kings and Jacks
Seat 4: FU808 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: TheConArtist folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: holker showed [Jd Ah] and lost with a pair of Jacks
Seat 8: Joe Momma13 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: spindrifter (small blind) folded before Flop

What is it with Flush Draws ?

I just can't seem to get away from flush drawers, I mean, how much do you have to raise to shake 'em off ?

PokerStars Game #8964256346: Tournament #44847005, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level II (15/30) - 2007/03/18 - 12:35:08 (ET)
Table '44847005 11' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: harley745 (5060 in chips)
Seat 2: sternace (7240 in chips)
Seat 3: HAWK012261 (5025 in chips)
Seat 4: holker (4225 in chips)
Seat 5: Prophet 22 (3775 in chips)
Seat 6: Nater311 (7570 in chips)
Seat 7: canukatm (7795 in chips)
Seat 8: Agriates (5120 in chips)
Seat 9: broncorubin (10950 in chips)
Nater311: posts small blind 15
canukatm: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to holker [Qd Ad]
Agriates: folds
broncorubin: folds
harley745: calls 30
sternace: calls 30
HAWK012261: calls 30
holker: raises 90 to 120
Prophet 22: folds
Nater311: folds
canukatm: calls 90
harley745: folds
sternace: folds
HAWK012261: calls 90
*** FLOP *** [2h Qc 3h]
canukatm: checks
HAWK012261: bets 120
holker: raises 240 to 360
canukatm: folds
HAWK012261: calls 240
*** TURN *** [2h Qc 3h] [7c]
HAWK012261: bets 150
holker: raises 1380 to 1530
HAWK012261: calls 1380
*** RIVER *** [2h Qc 3h 7c] [9h]
HAWK012261: bets 180
holker: calls 180
*** SHOW DOWN ***
HAWK012261: shows [Kh Ah] (a flush, Ace high)
holker: mucks hand
HAWK012261 collected 4575 from pot
holker said, "lol"
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4575 Rake 0
Board [2h Qc 3h 7c 9h]
Seat 1: harley745 folded before Flop
Seat 2: sternace folded before Flop
Seat 3: HAWK012261 showed [Kh Ah] and won (4575) with a flush, Ace high
Seat 4: holker mucked [Qd Ad]
Seat 5: Prophet 22 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Nater311 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 7: canukatm (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 8: Agriates folded before Flop (didn't bet)Seat 9: broncorubin folded before Flop (didn't bet)

Flush Draws

What makes it so hard for people to lay down a flush draw ?
At the minute, 9 out of 10 losing hands for me are against someone chasing a flush against the odds.
Subtlty is just not required in $10 sit and go tournaments, no-one respects a 3 or 4 x BB raise, so you have to put a BIG bet in to tell them you have a hand
But it doesn't matter, some looney will call with rags
The HH below is typical, he cant lay it down, they're sooooooted

PokerStars Game #8945815879: Tournament #45493355, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level I (10/20) - 2007/03/17 - 10:48:04 (ET)
Table '45493355 1' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: holker (1500 in chips)
Seat 2: legendrey (1480 in chips)
Seat 3: Thorup1 (1480 in chips)
Seat 4: ZodiacBrave (1800 in chips)
Seat 5: melon157 (1500 in chips)
Seat 6: harryh4 (1500 in chips)
Seat 7: ScaryPapyrus (1260 in chips)
Seat 8: raul98 (1500 in chips)
Seat 9: thewizard999 (1480 in chips)
Thorup1: posts small blind 10
ZodiacBrave: posts big blind 20
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to holker [Jd Jc]
melon157: folds
harryh4: folds
ScaryPapyrus: calls 20
raul98: raises 40 to 60
thewizard999: calls 60
holker: raises 180 to 240
legendrey: folds
Thorup1: folds
ZodiacBrave: folds
ScaryPapyrus: folds
raul98: calls 180
thewizard999: calls 180
*** FLOP *** [Ac 5c Jh]
raul98: checks
thewizard999: bets 100
holker: raises 300 to 400
raul98: folds
thewizard999: calls 300
*** TURN *** [Ac 5c Jh] [2c]
thewizard999: checks
holker: bets 860 and is all-in
thewizard999: calls 840 and is all-in
*** RIVER *** [Ac 5c Jh 2c] [7d]
*** SHOW DOWN ***
thewizard999: shows [Kc Qc] (a flush, Ace high)
holker: shows [Jd Jc] (three of a kind, Jacks)
thewizard999 collected 3250 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3250 Rake 0
Board [Ac 5c Jh 2c 7d]
Seat 1: holker showed [Jd Jc] and lost with three of a kind, Jacks
Seat 2: legendrey (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: Thorup1 (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 4: ZodiacBrave (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: melon157 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: harryh4 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: ScaryPapyrus folded before Flop
Seat 8: raul98 folded on the FlopSeat 9: thewizard999 showed [Kc Qc] and won (3250) with a flush, Ace high

Level one he wants to call a 12 x BB reraise with KQs ?
......and I know I should have raised more on the flop, but in all honesty he's calling no matter what, and I know the check on the turn means he has hit, but I push anyway, just to make sure.

Post when your winning

Sorry for the lack of recent updates, it seems I've fallen into the 'you only blog when your winning' category.
I've been running bad all year to be honest but getting worse month by month.
I actually made a small profit last week ,due mainly to winning a couple of $10 STT's and a money finish in the Crypto £4k Gtd
I was chipleader at the second break in the £4k Gtd before being outdrawn 3 times in quick succesion to end up in 16th of 360 for £40 when I thought a grand was within reach.
Back up to the $25 sit and go's this week, but the standard of play is truely dreadful, I've just had a 4 x BB raise called by a muppet with 74o who obviously then flops two pair against my AQ with a Q74 flop, half an hour of careful rebuilding later I have my chance for revenge with KK, again he calls a 4 x BB raise, this time with K2s and flops a flush.
Its enough to make me want to pack it all in to be honest, after winning £700 in 2005 and £1600 in 2006 I'm already down £350 this year.
If I thought it was because other players are better than me and Im just getting left behind, that would be bad enough, but to be constantly outdrawn by complete idiots is driving me mad.
Its just not fun any more
Since typing this Ive just crashed out of 2 mtts on Crypto with AKs v A9o then AKo v AQs
Its so bloody frustrating, its the type of crap you expect in $5 tournaments not $25
I think I need a few days off

A better weekend

Well, this weekend went a little bettter than the last one, which wasn't too hard considering.
After last weekend, I was a bit sick of poker and hadn't planned to play during the week as a kind of cooling off period after tilting on Sunday, but I did play in the Crypto £4k Gtd tournament on Monday night and finished 19th of 415 for a £42 return.
I then laid off the poker all week until Saturday, where I avoided the cash games and played a couple of $25 sit and go's on Betfair with no success, I also played the $1750 Gtd, which is becoming a bit of a favourite, and ran well until I bubbled in 19th.
Sunday I played a few $10 sit and go's on Pokerstars with 45 runners and managed a 8th place and a 12th place with 7 getting paid.
So onto Sunday night to try to turn the week into a winning one, I decided to try the $50 buy in $25k Gtd on Pokerstars at 9pm and play the $1750 Gtd on Betfair simultaneously to keep from getting bored.
The $1750 started well when my pocket Queens won against KK and AJ with a Q on the turn, and then went from good to better when with 46o in the BB I Flopped the nuts with 357 rainbow and had my bet raised and reraised by A7 and TT as we ended up all in to take my stack up to 9k and the chip lead on level 2.
After that start,things had to quieten down, and they did, but I reached the final table in 6th place, and thats where I finished when my 66 ran into pocket aces giving me a $96 return.
The bigger tournament on Pokerstars didn't start so good, 3 hands in I get dealt KK on the button, in an unraised pot, I raise from 20 to 80 and get two callers.
Thje flop is a nightmare AAx, I bet out 160 and keep one caller in the pot, turn is another Ace, oppo checks, and so do I, river card is harmless, and oppo bets out 360, I put him on a smaller pair and consider pushing all in, but Im scared of the case Ace, and dont want to crash out this early in a (for me) big buy in multi so I just call.......
....and he has the Ace.........lucky escape for me, opponent congratulates me on not going bust, and we move on.
Next hand of note was QQ, I had recovered a little, back to the 1500 starting chips, when I pick up QQ in late position, no raise in front of me so I raise to 4 x BB, early position limper reraises, I push and he insta-calls with AKo.
For the first time in living memory, my pocket Queens stand up against overcards and I double up to 3k.
A little later I get a huge stroke of luck when I fluke a flush with 99 v KK and I'm up to 9k and going well in the top 20.
The crucial hand came with the blinds at 300/600 and I have 99 again on the button, its folded round to me and I make it 2400, and get a call from the BB.
The flop is Th 7c 2s, and I make the mistake of not raising enough, because Im worried by the Ten, oppo checks, I bet 3000 and he flat calls, turn is 6h , oppo again checks and I bet 3000, he calls, by now I have no idea what he has but Im worried by AT or an overpair, the river brings a third heart, but to be honest Im not considering the flush until he bets 6000, with over 20k in the pot, I call fearing the worst (probably not thye best move), and he shows A4h.
Pretty poor play by him is rewarded, but if only I had raised more on the flop, I would have been in great shape, instead of crippled, from here I manage to limp into the cash, going out in 149th of 1179 for about $100, when an attempted button steal with A6s runs into A9.
Two cashes make it a rare profitable week in 2007, but also a string of 'could have beens'
I would be interested in peoples thoughts on the 99 hand, it seems that the conservative thinking which saved me early on with KK cost me later with the 99 hand.

A bad weekend

Had a terrible weekend, so bad that its took me a whole week before I could bring myself to blog it.
Started off last Saturday playing 0.25/0.5 ring games on Betfair, I'd had a prety good week on cash so far and decided to try and improve the finances a little more by playing Saturday afternoon, whilst watching the football on tv.
Well to cut a long story short, it ended up a bit of a disaster losing $130 before I decided that I still had no cash game and packed in.
I've heard other people say its harder to win on the cash tables at the weekend than it is on weekday evenings, and thats what I have found too.
But worse was still to come on Sunday, chastened by my losses at the cash tables I decided to win it all back on the $25 sit & go's on Betfair and Victor Chandlers.
I then suffered the worst run of bad beats I have ever seen which, I guess started tilting me to even worse results.
I won't bore you with all the details, but I had AA beaten twice by smaller pocket pairs outdrawing on me. AKs v KJo losing as oppo made a flush etc etc etc
In all I played 15 games for a total buy in of $412 and all I managed were two third places for a total return of $90 :(
I started off 4th, 4th, 3rd, 5th, 3rd, 4th, before the tilt set in and I lost my complete bank on VC before I had the sense to log off.
Over £200 in a weekend is a disaster, but at least, hopefully, I can learn a lesson from it and not make the same mistakes again.
Funnily enough, one thing I did learn is that the standard of play on the $25 games is no better than in the more familar lower stakes games, sounds a little crazy after losing £200 in a weekend, but at least I have the confidence that I can play at this level, and I feel I have nothing to fear from the average $25 stt player
I guess time will tell if this is true or not.

Moving on up

Back to a familiar theme this week, starting a determined attempt to step up a little in my tournament play.
I've decided to give up on the Crypto £4k Gtd, as although the std of play is generally poor, the blind structure turns it into a crap shoot befoe the final table is even reached.
I've turned my attention recently to the $25 Gtd on PokerStars which usually has a total prize pool of between $40k and $50k for a $50 buy in. I havent had much success in it so far, though from the 5 times I have entered, 3 times I have lost with a pocket pair against a smaller pocket pair, in the words of Phil Helmuth 'If it wasn't for luck, I guess I'd win them all'.
The standard of play on Pokerstars does seem better than a lot of other sites, I know it sounds strange, but I think this will help my game, too many idiots playing junk make it very difficult to put anyone on a hand. When a guy calls your 5 x BB raise pre-flop and the flop comes A33, you would assume that unless he has flopped quad threes your AK is ahead, but then they turn over J30 and your out of the tournament.
I've also been playing on Betfair again recently, the $1750 Gtd runs alongside the stars $25k Gtd and I like playing them both simultaneously to help stave off the boredom in the early stages and reduce the temptation to play too many hands.
I've also moved my cash game from stars to Betfair as the cash tables are undoubtably looser and easier to win on, I may try Crypto for cash in Feb as they are giving away up to £100 bonus for earning fpp's on UKBetting poker in Feb.
The year hasn't started too well with no major cashes in tournaments and an overall loss on cash tables, in conjunction with the increased cost of playing the higher value tournaments, but overall, I'm fairly happy with my game.
I think my luck hasn't been great so far and when it turns, I'll be in the money again.