End of month update

So this is how the challenge is going so far. I am above thetarget but I just hope I can keep up the pace! The cash total is looking pretty pathetic, but I just hope I can keep up the tournament results so that I can succeed in this challenge. If not, I will just have to play a lot of hours in the final month - either way, I will do it!






Cash Hours = 93.25
Cash Profit = $443.85 ($4.76 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 55.5
Tournament Profit = $1181.95 ($21.30 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1675.80 (next target reached)

July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

I know I said I quit...

...but after getting knocked out of the tournament I just wanted to play some cash. I was good though and only played 10c-20c on Titan, and it went so well! I play so scared on 25c-50c and its no fun at all, but here I was playing aggressively and it was so much more fun! I will soon move back to 10c-25c on Party but think I will wait a while before I play 25c-50c. As most my bankroll has come from tournaments, I don't really have the cash game experience for 25c-50c yet.

Session balance = $29.49

Cash Hours = 93.25
Cash Profit = $443.85 ($4.76 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 55.5
Tournament Profit = $1181.95 ($21.30 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1675.80 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Just my luck atthe moment

Started the Titan tournament, and half an hour in get KK. I raise and get re-raised. I push and he has AA. Oh well.

Cash Hours = 91.75
Cash Profit = $414.36 ($4.52 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 55.5
Tournament Profit = $1181.95 ($21.30 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1646.31 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

I suck at poker

I played for an hour and a half last night and I was feeling much better. I didnt pick up any hands really but I stayed very patient and didn't piss away any of my stack. However, I started playing this morning and I lose $58 in half an hour. That's it now, no more cash games until next weekend.

Cash Hours = 91.75
Cash Profit = $414.36 ($4.52 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 55
Tournament Profit = $1187.45 ($21.59 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1651.81 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Bad return to 25c-50c

Started playing 25c-50c and it started appaullingly! I was down about $100 after an hour, but managed to make some back. Here's the key hands...

- get 10 10 in the SB. There are 2 limpers and I call. The flop is 4-5-6 and I bet $1. I get 2 callers. The turn is a 9 and I bet $2.50. I get 1 caller. The turn is a J. I check and he bets $5. I make a bad call and he shows 99 = -$9

- get KJo in the SB. There are 4 limpers and I call. The flop is K-K-Q. I bet out $2 and get 1 caller. The turn is a 4. I bet $3 and he calls. I'm not 100% sure I'm ahead, so I'm trying to keep the pot small. The river is a 3. I bet $4 and he raises to $9.50. There is a chance I'm ahead and I'm getting about 4-1 odds, so I call. He shows 44, bugger = -$15.22

- next hand I get KK on the button. I raise to $2 and only the Bb calls (same player with 44). The flop is 8-9-J and he check/calls $3. The turn is a 6 and he check/calls $5. The river is a 10 and he bets $10. I think I have to fold = -$10

- get AQ and hit an A on the flop. However I get called on the flop and raised on the turn, and feel I'm behind = -$7.50

- bet JJ on a QQ2 flop but get raised by a pre-flop raiser. I fold = -$8

- try to bluff with KQs and it doesn't pay off = -$10

At this point it was looking ery bad, but I managed to win a bit back. These are the hands...

- I get AQ in EP and limp. There are 4 other limpers. The flop is 4-9s-Qs. I bet $1.50. Limper 1 calls, limper 2 min-raises, limper 3 calls and it is folded back to be. I want to find out where I am and not let people draw to free, and I raise to $8. Only the min-raiser calls. The turn is a J and we both check. The river is a 7, I bet $5 and he folds = $13.35

- I get KK in the BB. There is a min-raise and I re-raise to $4. Only an EP limper calls (who just lost KK v AA and may be tilting). The flop is 8-Jh-3h. I bet $6 and he calls. The turn is another 3. I think he is weak and maybe tilting, and I put him all-in for $22. He calls with Ah-9h. The river 8s = $30.79

- get 66 UTG and limp. There are 3 other limpers. The flop is 6-9-2. I bet $1.50 and I get min-raised by a limper. I call, trying to trap. The turn is an 8 and I check. he bets $3 and as there are draws out, I raise to $10. He min-raises me back to $17 and I am scared! If he had a straight he would've had to raise the flop with a gutshot, but I huess that's possible. Anyway I call and the river is a lovely 2. I put him all-in and he folds = $19.90

- I get AA in MP and make it $2.50. There are 2 callers and I'm second to act. The flop is Ac-8c-7 and I bet $2.50, trying to look weak. One player min-raises and the other folds. I call, again trying to trap. The turn is the Qc. I don't think he would've min-raised on a flush draw, but it's still not an ideal card. I check and he bets $10. I go all-in for $37 and he calls with A-Kc. The river is an 8 = $44.85

Session balance = -$37.82

I know my problem. I don't give up hands quick enough, I just need to be more patient. I try to pick up lots of small pots, but this seems to be more costly than beneficial.

Cash Hours = 89.75
Cash Profit = $470.99 ($5.25 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 55
Tournament Profit = $1187.45 ($21.59 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1708.44 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

10c-25c session

I played 2 sessions hours of 10c-25c. I need to get the cash total to $500 before I can move up, to make me learn that tilt is bad! Here's how it went...

Session 1
- get 10 10 but have to fold when 4 spades come out and I'm spadeless = -$6.00
- pay off JQ with AQ on a AK10 flop = -$6.65
- I call a raise to $1 with 88. Another player then goes all-in for $3.24. The original raiser calls, as do I (weak call by me!). The flop is 8-9-2. I bet $3 and the other player calls. The turn is another 2. I bet $4 and he folds. The all-in player has KJ and I take the pot = +$9.03
- I call a raise with AQs. The flop is Q-Q-J. I bet it, but have to check to the river when a 10 and a 8 come out = +$8.85
- get JJ and the flop comes KJ3 = +$7.00
- session balance = +$14.64

Session 2
- get 99 in the SB. The flop is 5-5-3. I bet $1 and I get min-raised by someone who posted a dead BB. Smells like a 5! I call. The turn is a 9 (NICE). I bet $3 and he raises to $6. I re-raise to $12, he re-raises to $18, I put him all-in and he calls with 54. I think I am pretty lucky, most people would fold 54 to the strength I showed there = +$23.25
- call a raise with 66. The flop is A-10-6. Unfortunately, no-one has an A and i don't win that much of a pot = +$13.41
- I limp with 9s7s. The flop is 9h-7s-5s. I bet $1 and get 2 callers. The turn is 7c. One player goes all-in for $3. I call, as does the other player (I should've raised!). The river is 10s and the first player bets $5. I call and he shows Qs-6s - damn river! All-in player had 10-8 = -$9.27
- get KK in the BB. The button min-raises and I make it $2.50. A limper and the button call. The flop is 3-8-4. I bet $5 and the button calls. The turn is a 9. I bet $6 and he calls. The river is a Q. I check and he bets $2. Standard call. He shows 9-10 = +$16.80
- session balance = $72.66

Cash Hours = 87.75
Cash Profit = $508.81 ($5.80 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 55
Tournament Profit = $1187.45 ($21.59 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1746.26 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Back to 10c-25c!

To make sure I am well and truly over my tilting tendancies, I will play 10c-25c until my cash game profit reaches $500. I had two sessions at this level last night and it was extremely slow, but here's the key hands...

- get 10s-6s in the BB. There are 5 limpers and the SB folds. I check. The flop is 9s-As-7s. I bet out 3/4 of the pot and get 2 callers. The turn is 9h which is not great, but I can't show weakness now and give free cards. I bet $2.50 and they both call. The river is the ideal 8s. One opponent has $11 and one only has $2.07. They have both been playing it like a draw so I hope they now have good flushes. I bet $10 and they both call. Player 1 shows Ks-3s (he had me beat until the river!) and player 2 shows Ad-5s.

- get AA in Mp. There are 2 limpers and I make it $2.50. Only 1 calls me. The flop is 8s-7-3s. He checks and I bet $3.75. He calls. The turn is 5s, and we both check ( looking back I should've bet here). The river is Ac and he checks. I bet $8 and he calls with KK. Damn, I should've won more here.

- UTG min-raises and the button calls. I call in the SB with 66, and the BB calls. The flop is 5h-6h-Js. I bet $1 and all 3 call. The turn is 8s. I bet $4 and UTG and button call. The river is 2s. I can't really put anyone on spades but I check totry to induce a bluff. UTG goes all-in for $9. Button folds and I call. Hw shows AsKs - annoying.

- There is one limper and the cut-off min-raises. I call on the button with AKs. The blinds and the limper all call. The flop is K-7-6. It is checked to the cut-off who bets $0.75. I raise to $2 and the SB and cut-off call. The turn is a 5 and it's checked to me. I bet $3 and they both call. The river is a 2 and the SB bets $5.01. the cut-off calls, and although I think I am beat, I am getting odds of 5.5-1. i call and the SB shows 68 (pair of 6s) and the cut-off shows 78o (straight).

I also played the Titan freeroll and re-bought twice but nothing came of it.

- session balance = $7.30

Cash Hours = 84.25
Cash Profit = $421.51 ($5.00 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 55
Tournament Profit = $1187.45 ($21.59 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1658.96 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Tournament saves the day

I had been feeling pretty shit afte my big tilting sessions and was going to take some time off but couldn't not play the Titan student tourney! 69 people started. I started quite well when I got 10 10. I limped and the BB min-raised. Standard call. The flop was A-8s-7s. He checked and I nearly bet but decided to check. The turn was a 10. He bet and I raised. The river was a rag and he checked. I bet 2/3 the pot and he called, showing AsJs. I'm glad I didn't bet the flop!

After that I didn't get a hand for ages. With blinds at 300-600 and it being bubble time, I only had about 1600 and pushed from the cut-off with 95o. I was almost sure it would fold round but the BB called with Q10o. I hit trip 9s and was back in the game! I could then steal alot of blinds around the bubble (pretending the 95o play was a mistake!) and get a fairly big stack. However, once the bubble had burst, it all gets a bit crazy and I had to tighten up. On the final table, with about 6 left, I pushed on the button with A2s. The BB called with AK and luckily I flopped a 2. Next hand I got KK and pushed all-in. I was called by 10 10 and I became chip leader. I was then playing very aggressively until there were 3 people left. However, I then got completely card-dead and the other 2 finally started to show some balls. Eventually I pushed from the BB against the SB with A7o. he called with Q9s and turned a Q. Still, 3rd paid $200 so that covers my losses from the past few days.

Session balance = $194.50

Cash Hours = 82.25
Cash Profit = $412.21 ($5.01 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 54
Tournament Profit = $1189.45 ($22.03 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1651.66 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Worse sessions ever = time off

I've had the worst 2 sessions. i have been playing like I'm on tilt but I have no idea why. I am now going to take a few days off to try to refresh. Here are the low-lights...

- tilt of $40 with A9 v KK on a 9 high flop
- pay off A10 with KQ on a KQJ flop
- win $25 with KQ on a K highboard
- win $25 with 10 10 on a 8 high board
- get 99 and call a raise. Flop is 772. He bets and I raise. He calls. Turn is a J and we both check. River is a 9 and he goes all-in. I call and he shows JJ.
- AA gets cracked by 10 10
- flop a nut-flush draw with AKs but miss
- someone catches a flush against my 10 10
- pay off 10 8 with 87 on a 882 flop

- session balance = -$177.28

However I did finally win Step 1!

Cash Hours = 82.25
Cash Profit = $412.21 ($5.01 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 51.25
Tournament Profit = $994.95 ($19.41 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1457.16 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Cash and Step

Played 3 tables of cash game whilst I was trying to playthe mini-steps on partypoker. It hasn't started well, as I've come 3rd and then 7th for a loss of $2. The cash games went ok though, here are the key hands...

- call a raise with QQ on the button. UTGraised to $1.75, the cut-off called and so did I. The flop was 10d-9d-4d, I had no diamond. UTG now bet $5, and I put him all-in for only $12 more. He called with JJ (no diamond) = +$18.76

- get 78o in the SB. It is folded to me and I call. The BB min-raises and I call. The flop is 9-5-2. I check and he bets $1.53. Maybe I 'knew' I was going to hit, or maybe I a lucky fish, but I called. The turn is a 6. I check and he checks. The river is an A and I think this might've helped his hand, so I overbet the pot and bet $10. He min-raises to $20 and I double-chek that I have the nuts. I do and I push all-in. He calls with A5o = +$49.95

- session balance = +$34.71

Cash Hours = 79.25
Cash Profit = $589.49 ($7.44 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 50.25
Tournament Profit = $994.95 ($19.80 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1634.44 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

2 losing sessions

Not the best sessions, very card dead but here's what happened...

Session 1
- get 88 in the BB. The cut-off raises and I call. The flop is 3-2-2. I check and he bets the pot. I raise and he pushes. I have to fold = -$12.75

Session 2
- get AA in LP. The 2 players on my right limp, and I make it $2.50. The first limper calls and the second raises to $9.50. I raise another 5 to put him all-in. He calls with KK and I take the pot = +$16.15
- get KK in the SB. The same 2 players on my right call and I make it $3. Again the player on my right re-raises to $5.50. I make it $20 and he calls. The flop is Qh-Jh-2. I am stupid and push all-in, and he folds, but it is still a bad move! = +$21.35
- get 66 in the BB. There is a raise and I call with 2 others. The flop is 6 7 9 and I pay-off 8 10 = -$53.45

- session balance = -$41.70

Cash Hours = 77.75
Cash Profit = $552.78 ($7.12 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 48.75
Tournament Profit = $996.95 ($20.45 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1599.73 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Back to winning

Played some more cash (only an hour) and here's what happened. I was getting very card dead at first but I stayed patient and ended up with a nice profit.

Table 1
- buy-in - $50
- didn't win a single hand!
- end - down $6.25

Table 2
- buy-in - $50
- won 4 pots in total, all less than $3
- end - down $0.90

Table 3
- buy-in - $50
- chased with KsJs on a As-2s-Qd board but missed both draws - $45.50
- get AA in LP. There are 2 limpers and I make it $3. Only 1 limper calls. The flop is A-4-6. He checks and I bet $3, hoping to look weak. He calls. The turn is a 10 and he checks too, wanting him to think I was just continuation betting the flop and I have nothing. The river is a 2 and he bets out $7. I raise to $22 and he calls with 66. Damn, he had a monster! If only I had played it a bit faster I would've got his whole stack, but I couldn't guess that he had a set - $72.35
- get 9c5c in the SB. There are 2 limpers and and I call. The flop is K-6c-3c. I check. I limper bets $1.90 and only I call. I have a read on this player. A few times he has called down big bets with only 2nd pair or top pair low kicker. Therefore if I hit I think he might pay me off. The turn is Jc. I bet the pot and he calls. The river is an 8d. I bet $10 and he folds - $79.45
- end - up $31.05

Table 4
- buy-in - $50
- call a raise with QhJh after 2 other players have called. I flop a flush draw and turn top pair. I bet and take the pot - $54.05
- get AA in the BB. There are 4 callers, including the SB, and I raise to $3. 1 MP limper and the SB call. The flop is J-6-2. i want to take this pot now, as I usually end up paying off sets in this situation. SB bets $2 and I raise to $7 to find out where I am. The both call (so where am I?). The turn is another 2, and SB checks. I check too, to try to keep the pot small and to see what MP does. MP bets $5 and we both call, although I'm not sure where I am still. The river is another 2. SB checks and I check, hoping for the showdown. However, MP goes all-in for $14.50. SB calls and I am fairly sure SB has a J, and so I am ahead. Therefore I push all-in for $34.85 to create a side-pot. SB calls. SB shows J10o and MP shows 10 10 - $123.25
- end - up $74.25

-session balance - $98.15

Cash Hours = 75.25
Cash Profit = $594.48 ($7.90 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 48.75
Tournament Profit = $996.95 ($20.45 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1641.43 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Cashed in tourny

I cashed in the tourney but was pretty disapointed. One two big early pots with AK on KK3 flop and with 22 v AA on a Q962Q board. Then it was pretty plan sailinh to the money, especially after pulling off a nice hammer throw. In the money though, the blinds were 300-600 and UTG went all-in for 710. I had 4,000 and raised to 1500 to isolate. The player after me then pushed all-in for 3,000 total. I thought I might be behind but was getting great odds and so had to call. In hindsight I should've just pushed all-in pre-flop. It turned out that UTG had AQ and the other player had JJ. The flop came KQQ, so I was heading to atleast win my money back in the side pot. However, the turn was a J and I was short-stacked. I was out soon after.

Session balance - $14.50

Cash Hours = 74.25
Cash Profit = $496.33 ($6.68 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 48.75
Tournament Profit = $996.95 ($20.45 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1543.28 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Another losing session

I had to stay up last night to play the CardPlayer tournament, and so I thought I would play some more cash games to fill the time. However, I was feeling tired and knew I was feeling impatient and that I was going to have a losing session, but I just couldn't stop myself! Here's how it went...

Table 1
- buy-in - $50
- didn't win any meaningful hands
- end - down $13.30

Table 2
- buy-in - $50
- get KK in the SB. There are 4 limpers and I make it $3. I get 2 callers. The flop is 9 high and I bet 3/4 of the pot. The big stack calls. The turn is a rag and I check-raise him to see where I am. He calls. The river is another 9 and that doesn't look good. I check and he bets $15. I know I am beat, and need to get better at folding this. However, it was a big pot and I called. He shows Q9o - $9
- top-up - $50
- end - down $39.60

Table 3
- buy-in - $50
- try to get clever with 22 after I fail to set - $37.75
- there are 2 limpers, and I limp on the button with 7h-5h. The BB raises to $2.50 and everyone calls. The flop is 9h-6h-3h, giving me a flush and a double-bellybuster straight flush draw. The pre-flop raiser bets $6, one other player calls, and I think I am ahead and raise to $20. The original raiser folds and the caller goes all-in for another $2. I call and he shows Qh-8h, so I only have 1 out, the 4h. I miss - $24.53
- top-up - $50
- lose a small pot with AKo - $41.50
- get 66 in MP and limp. The cut-off and button limp, the SB calls, and the BB min-raises to $1. We all call. The flop is Kc-6d-7c. It is checked to me, and I bet $3. The cut-off calls and the button goes all-in for $5.81. The BB calls the call-in, and as it's an under-raise I can only call aswell. The cut-off also calls. The turn is the 5d. The BB checks and I bet $9. I want the the button to go all-in for $18, the BBto call, and then I can re-raise all-in. However, the button just calls and the BB folds. The river is 5c, making the flush bit giving me a full house. I put the cut-off all-in for $9.05 and he calls. The cut-off had Kd9d and the button had K10o - $82.48
- end- down $13.74

Table 4
- buy-in - $50
- get KQo in the SB. UTG min-raises, the button calls, I call and the BB calls. The flop is 9-10-J - nice. It is checked to UTG who bets the pot, $4. The button calls and I raise to $10. UTG and button call. The turn is a 7. I bet $15, which puts UTG all-in. He calls and the button folds. I think he has a set or an overpair, and so hope the board doesn't pair. The river is a K and he shows JJ - $77.80
- get 33 in LP. UTG+1 min-raises, and 3 of us call. The flop is 3d-Qs-Js. It is checked to me, and there are a lot of draws on so I bet the pot. The button calls, the pre-flop raiser folds, and the other caller calls. The turn is Ad, making a straight for anyone with K10, and another flush draw. I bet $12 and just the button calls. I don't really know what to put him on, he is paying way too much for a flush draw and playing JJ or QQ way too slowly. The river is 2s, and I bet $20, hoping he doesn't raise! He folds - $100.55
- get Ac3c in the BB. UTG min-raises and just the blinds call. The flop is 6-3-2 and I think I may have the best hand. I bet $1.50 and they both call. The turn is another 6, and I continue to represent it. I bet $4 and just the SB calls. The river is a 2, completing my represented full house. The SB checks and I bet $8. He raises me to $30, and I have to fold. he shows 95o - what a bastard! - $84.80
- end - up $32.30

I know it was a losing session, but I am still positive as there were so many stupid mistakes that I made, that if I learn from them I can continue to beat the game. Session balance - -$34.34

Cash Hours = 74.25
Cash Profit = $496.33 ($6.68 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 47.25
Tournament Profit = $982.45 ($20.79 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1528.78 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Not the best sessions

Played 2 more 25c-50c, the first after I was tired and had been drinking al ittle, and they did not go too great. Here's the highlights...

Session 1
- paid off 66 when I had AKs on a K-10-6 flop
- hit a set of 7s and a set of Qs and won two small pots
- someone pushes all-in on me with Ah2h on a 3h-4-Qh-J board when I have QJ. The river is 6h and they take the pot.
- got KK and raised. Someone immediately re-raised and I was pretty sure they had AA. Managed to keep the pot small on a Q high board, but they did indeed have AA.
- won two small pots with QQ and KK as overpairs
- end session down $15.79

Session 2
- lost with AA to 88 but managed to keep the pot small
- won a reasonable pot with QQ when I rivered a full house (although I think I was ahead anyway)
- won two small pots with JJ and 99
- end session up $3.23

However, I also played enough raked hands to get the $20 from my last deposit, and so I am still slightly up. I also played a few small tourneys, where I won a few and lost a few.

Session balance (including bonus) - $10.14

Cash Hours = 73
Cash Profit = $530.67 ($7.27 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 47.25
Tournament Profit = $982.45 ($20.79 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1563.12 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Halfway Reached!

Yet another hour and a half 4 tabling on 25c-50c. Here's the highlights...

Table 1
- buy-in - $50
- get KK UTg and make it $2.50. The players on my left and right call. The flop is A-10-A. First player checks, I bet $2.75, 1 caller. Turn is a 3 and we both check. There is a chance he has a weak ace but he may also have the 10 or another pocket pair or even be on a gutshot straight draw with KQ/KJ/QJ. The river is a 4 and I bet $2.75 as a block bet. He calls and shows A9 - $39.50
- top-up - $50
- a player in LP raises to $1. The button calls and I call in the SB with AKo. The flop is K-9-K. I check and the pre-flop raiser bets $2.50. The button folds and I call, confident I have the best hand. The turn is another 9, and now only pocket 9s beat me. I bet $4 and he calls. The river is an 8, and I bet $8, which he calls with AQ - $67.72
- end - up $16.78

Table 2
- buy-in - $50
- first hand get 88 in the BB. There are 2 limpers, the SB calls and I check. The flop is 8-A-10. SB checks, I check and a limper bets the pot ($1.90). 2nd limper folds and the SB calls. I should definitely raise here as any card A-6 will pair the board or lead to a straight draw. However, I am stupid and just call, getting greedy. The turn is a 6 and the SB checks. I want to check-raise, and so check, hoping the limper bets. He checks. The turn is a K and the SB goes all-in for $49. This is a tough decision, and it's my own fault for having to make it. I reluctantly fold, as does the limper. The SB says he had AK. Damn - $47.60
- win two small pots with AA and QQ, but nothing major
- end - down $7.47

Table 3
- buy-in - $50
- 4th hand in I get AA. I raise into 3 limpers and get 1 caller. The flop looks safe and I decide to slow-play them, as my opponent seems to have nothing. I end up winning a small pot when I raise the river - $57
- 4 hands later I get 33. UTG limps, I limp in MP, the button limps and the BB checks. The flop is 7-6-3. UTG bets $1 and I raise to $3 (learnt my lesson from the 88!). Only UTG calls. The turn is a 10 and he checks. I bet $4 and he calls. The river is an 8, and he bets $6. I can't really put him on the 9 for the straight but I don't want to get carried away. I call and he shows 44 - $70.35
- win a few small pots with 77, 10 10 and 88 - $85.31
- end - up $33.56

Table 4
- buy-in - $50
- limp with AKs in MP after UTG limps. The button also limps and the blinds call/check. The flop is K-9-4. The blinds check it. UTG bets $2 and I need to find out where I am. I raise to $5.25. Worryingly the button calls, but everyone else folds. Now I am out of position. The turn is a 7 and I bet $4.75, trying to keep the pot small. He calls. The turn is a 10 and I bet another $4.75, he calls and mucks KQ - $70.55
- end - up $24.05

- session balance - $66.92

I have now reached the halfway point in my challenge, and I am under halfway through the time (only just though), so it's all looking good at the moment. I just need to keep up this form! I'm currently averaging 13.69 BB/100 hands at 25c-50c!


Cash Hours = 70.5
Cash Profit = $523.23 ($7.42 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 45.5
Tournament Profit = $979.75 ($21.53 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1552.98 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

25c-50c - great start, terrible end

Played another session 4-tabling 25c-50c and this is how it all went...

Table 1
- buy-in - $50
- get AA UTG+1 and raise to $2. Folded to the button who calls. SB folds and BB re-raises to $6.50. I re-raise to $17.50. The button calls and the BB goes all-in for $50. I call for $47.95 and the button calls for $50. The button shows AK and the BB shows QQ. The flop is K high, but the turn is an A and they are both drawing dead. This is my biggest pot ever - $141.10
- table drops to 5 people and it's time to leave
- end - up $87.85

Table 2
- buy-in - $50
- lose a bit calling a raise with 88 and folding to a big bet on a 333 flop (he had AA) and won a small pot with KK - $56.55
- get QJs in the SB. There are 2 limpers and I call. The flop is A-Q-Q and I end up winning a small pot off A7 - $56.05
- get KK in MP. It is folded to me and I raise to $2. A player 2 to my left calls and everyone else folds. The flop is Q-Jd-7d. I bet $4 and he calls (worrying!). The turn is 4h and now I just want a cheap showdown. I check and he bets $5. I figure if I raise he will check the river, and so I min-raise to $10. He calls. The river is another J and I check. He bets $10 and I am pretty sure I am beat but I am getting over 4-1 odds and so I call. he shows KJo. Lucky shit - $26.50
- very next hand I get AQo and limp. There are 3 other limpers and the blinds call. The flop is Q-6h-3h. The blinds check and I bet $2. It is folded to the last limper who raises to $5. The blinds fold. Maybe if I had a full stack I could get away from this, but will only 50BBs I was stupid and re-raised to $12. He goes all-in and I am tilting and call. He has 33 and winsthe pot.
- quit straight away
- end - down $50

Table 3
- buy-in - $50
- have 8d5d in the BB. There is one limper and an LP player min-raises to $1. It is folded to me and I call, as does the limper. This min-raise is often a high PP and so I hope to crack it and get paid off. The flop is 9-7-6 so I have the straight - nice. I bet $2, limper calls and pre-flop raiser raises to $4. I re-raise $10.75 (a mistake I think, I should've slowed down). The limper folds and the raiser calls. The turn is a 2 and I bet $15. He folds - $63.65
- end - up $10.20

Table 4
- buy-in - $50
- get 22 in MP. There are 2 limpers before me and I limp. It is folded to the cut-off who raises to $1.70. Only 1 limper calls and I also call. The flop is 2s-3s-J. I bet $2.50 and the pre-flop raiser min-raises and I think I'm about to get paid off by an overpair! The limper folds and I raise to $12. He calls. The turn is a non-spade 7. We both have about $35 left and I want to take all his. I figure if I bet $10 and then go all-in on the river he won't be able to fold with those pot odds. I bet $10 and he calls. The rivers a non-spade 10 and I go all-in. He calls and shows AsJs. I got a bit lucky here, as not only would I have paid him off if the river was a spade, but I am also lucky that he still called on the river when he had missed his flush.
- limp with 99 UTG. There is 1 other limper and the big stack on the cut-off raises to $3. I have big implied odds and so call, everyone else folds. The flop is 9-10-10 and I bet $5. He thinks for ages and finally folds, saying that he had QQ. I really wasted this hand, and should've got paid off here. He made a great fold but I should not have bet the flop so strongly with a pair of 10s out.
- end - up $39.60

Table 5
- when table 1 became short-handed I opened another
- buy-in - $50
- get Jd10d. The flop is Ad-Q-2d and I have a big draw. It is cheap to draw but I miss - $34.50
- top-up - $50
- get 66 and call a raise of $2. Someone then re-raises to $6 and 3 other call. I am getting massive implied odds and call, but miss my set - $42.50
- end - down $23.50

- session balance - $64.15

Cash Hours = 69
Cash Profit = $456.31 ($6.61 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 45.5
Tournament Profit = $979.75 ($21.53 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1486.06 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

Too busy to play much

It's nearly a week since I last played but I couldn't miss out on the Tuesday tourney. There were 82 runners this week. It was all going well, although I don't remember winning any particularly large pots. I then got lucky when I tried to steal the blinds with 34s. The flop came 567 and I got paid off. I was then sitting pretty at bubble time, managing to pressure the people hanging on for the cash. However I then got completely card dead, the only hands I picked up were JJ twice in an hour. The first time I was against QQ and the second against AA. With an M of under 3 it's hard to get away from though. I ended up 17th for $40. Session balance = $34.50.

Cash Hours = 67.5
Cash Profit = $392.16 ($5.81 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 45.5
Tournament Profit = $979.75 ($21.53 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1421.91 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

First good 25c-50c session

The girlfriend was watching Desperate Housewives so I thought I would spend that time productively and play 4 tables of 25c-50c for an hour. Here's how each table went...

Table 1
- buy-in - $50
- got AA and won a small pot - $52.40
- UTG and UTG+1 both limp. It is folded to me on the button and I am lucky enough to pick up 72o in this dream situation. I raise to $2.75 and it is folded to the UTG player. He min-raises to $5 and UTG folds. I have position and the second strongest hand in hold 'em, so I can't pass up those pot odds. However, I know that 72o is ultimately, like AK, a drawing hand. Therefore I call and see a flop. The flop comes 8-2-9, which is fairly good for my hand. However, he bets $8 and I am forced to fold - $44.15
- top-up - $50
- get AKo in the SB. There are 2 limpers and the cut-off makes it $2. I call, as does 1 limper. The flop comes K-8-4 rainbow, and I check. The other caller bets $0.50 and the pre-flop raiser raises to $4. I need to find out where I am in the hand and so I raise to $9.75. The other player folds and the original raiser calls. The turn is a 6 and I bet $10, thinking I am ahead. He calls. The river is a 5 and I can't really put him on the 7 for the straight. However I call, planning on calling a bet. He checks and shows K10s - $76.40
- another hand where 72o lets me down. I pick it up in the SB and it is folded to me and I complete the BB. The BB checks and the flop comes down A-J-6 rainbow. I check and the BB bets $0.50. This looks a weak bet, and I can't put him on a big hand after just calling pre-flop, and so I raise to $2.25. He calls. The turn is a 9 and I bet $3.75. He raises to $9 and reluctantly I have to fold - $65.90
- end up $9.55

Table 2
- buy-in - $50
- I don't get involved for a while and then I pick up KK in mid-position. There is 1 limper before me and I make it $2. The player on my left makes it $5 and it is folded back to me. There is always a danger of AA but I have to take these chances. I make it $14 total and he calls. The flop is 8-7-3 with 2 spades, which looks pretty safe (aslong as he doesn't have AA!). I bet $15 and he goes all-in for $31.30 total. Although I think he has AA, I have to call as I am getting about 5-1 pot odds. I call and he shows QQ - $91.05
- get AKo in the BB and there is 1 limper, the SB folds. I make it $2 and he calls. The flop is A-K-7 and I check. He bets $$2 and I make it $6.75. He folds - $94.90
- lose a few small pots and then I get AA UTG. I limp and a mid-position player min-raises to $1. The BB calls and I make it $4. Only the mid-position player calls. I betthe flop and he folds - $95.35
- end up $48.85

Table 3
- buy-in - $50
- I get QQ on the button. UTG limps and UTG+1 min-raises to $1. It is folded to me and I make it $2.50. The blinds fold and they both call. The flop is Q-J-8 with 2 spades. They both check, and as there are lots of draws on I have to bet. I bet $6 and they both fold - $55.60
- get 93s in the SB. There are 3 limpers and I call. The flop is 3-8-3 and I check. It is checked round. The turn is another 3 and I min-bet. 2 players call me. The river is a 7 and I check. The first caller checks and the 2nd bets $2. I want to raise big but make it look small, and so I raise to $9.99. He calls and shows A2 for A high! I don't think I played this hand well at all, but nevermind, it worked - $66.84
- the very next hand I get 55 on the button. UTG and UTG+2 limp and I call. The blinds call/check. The flop is 5-K-3 rainbow. It is checked to me, and as the flop doesn't look threatening, I check too. This was maybe a mistake, as you shouldn't give free cards without the nuts. The turn is a 10 and the blinds check. UTG bets out $0.75 and UTG+2 folds. There are now 2 hearts out, and straight draws, and so I raise to $3.50. The blinds fold and UTG re-raises me to $6.25. I make it $15 and he goes all-in for $35.25. The only things I can worry about are a higher set and possibly a big draw, like QhJh, but I have to go for it. I call and he is drawing dead with AKo - $104.09
- the very next hand I get 66 and make a set, but don't win a big pot - $107.09
- I have QcJd on the button. UTG, MP and the button all limp, SB calls and I check. The flop is 10-2-9 all diamonds, giving me an open-ended straight draw and flush draw. It's still a scary board though. SB and I check, and UTG bets $2. Only the SB and I call. The turn is Kc, completing my straight. However, I still don't want to get carried away with the hand. SB checks and I copy. UTG bets $5. This to me looks like he is trying to chase out flush draws and therefore doesn't have a flush himself. SB folds and I call. I hope the river is a non-diamond that doesn't pair the board, as I think a bet by me would look like a bluff and I was fairly sure I had the best hand. However, the river was 6d. I still thought I was probably good, but felt there was no benefit in betting, as I would only becalled if I were beat. He checks and shows Q10o for a pair of 10s - $113.69
- end up $65.94

Table 4
- buy-in - $50
- no wins or losses over $5 on any hand
- I call a few raises with pocket pairs but never set
- I get AA but win a tiny pot
- end down $9.30

Session balance - $110.99

Cash Hours = 67.5
Cash Profit = $392.16 ($5.81 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 44
Tournament Profit = $945.25 ($21.48 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1387.41 (next target reached)

June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000

3rd in tourney

I played 3 STTs and didn't place in any of them, and then lost about $5 cash gaming on Party. Then yesterday I played in the $5 Titan tournament. There were 77 runners this week, and I really wanted to come first! It started well when I got AQo in the BB. UTG min-raised and the button and SB called. It is hard to make people fold in this tournament and so I thought I would see a flop. The flop came Q-4-8 and the SB checks. I didn't like the pre-flop raiser and button acting after me and so also checked. UTG went all-in for 820 (the pot was 320) and the button and SB folded. I thought for a while but ultimately couldn't fold. He showed KQ and I won a nice early pot.

It all went well from then on. However, people were playing so slowly near the bubble that the blinds became huge, with the average stack only having an M of 2.2. I tried to steal a few and ended up pushing all-in in the cut-off with J7s, not expecting a caller. The BB did call with AJs and I got very lucky to river a flush.

At the start of the final table I was again short-stacked, but still with an average chip stack, with about 10k with blinds 2k-4k. I pushed on the button with QJs and the blinds folded. Next hand I get AA and again push when it was folded to me. The SB (big stack) obviously didn't like me 'stealing' his blinds, and called with QJo. After that I was chip leader.

I was pretty card-dead after that and ended up going out to 10 10 when I was trying to steal the blinds with A2s. However, 3rd paid $200 and so I was pretty pleased.

Cash Hours = 66.5
Cash Profit = $281.17 ($4.23 p/h)

Tournament Hours = 44
Tournament Profit = $945.25 ($21.48 p/h)

Total bankroll = $1276.42 (next target reached)

May 1st - $700
June 1st - $1100
July 1st - $1600
August 1st - $2200
September 1st - $3000