Strange Month of February

Well what a strange month last month was. And what a struggle!

I can't say that I have suffered particularly from bad beats or that the cards have dried up, it was just a major struggle to make a profit. So why?

Well it appears on reflection that I was getting my fair share of big starting hands in cash games. The problem was that I was getting them when no one else wanted to join in the fun. So whereas I would expect to extract a reasonable profit from the top 5 starting hands then I was merely taking the blinds down or pushing the limpers out. The other hands that I was getting (the ones that are nice to play but do not withstand much pressure) I was getting completely out of position or the table dynamics were not right to play them without much risk.

So it is now totally clear that there are many other factors at work here other than merely getting your fare share of the luck of the cards. You also need to get your cards in the right position and/or with the right types of players.

So the struggle was merely that of making a profit over the blinds, which you wouldn't have thought would be a problem in a cash game where the blinds are static. As well as making a profit above the one or two losses you are bound to make. Normally though these would be offset against the big wins you get.

So what did I change to grind out a profit for the month.

Firstly, I DIDN'T CHANGE MY GAME. Why should I? It is a formula that has been winning in the past!

Secondly, to relieve the pressure on my bankroll I jostled with the game levels. I dropped down when I was losing (even below my normal lowest at one point). Then returned to my normal levels when making a small winning. In essence performed very strict bank rolling methods.

Thirdly, I played where I would make a bonus. This is something I normally do anyway because the bonuses can add value to winning sessions and reduce the impact of losing ones.

Lastly, as I always do, I vowed not to make a loss. I had to do what it takes to make that balance above $0, even if it meant I was only going to make $1 profit that month. I made a bit more than that in the end - but not much more!!

So all in all it feels like February was a bit of a waste of pokering time and it leaves me with the following questions:

Was I right to drop down the levels in order to make a profit?
Did I inhibit my playing by putting so much pressure on myself to make the profit?

I've still yet to answer them but I do know that my goal is always to never lose!

Until later

Keep it Tight

Gala Casino Leicester Live Warmup

In light of my qualifying success I have decided that I need to brush up on some of my live skills. I have only played twice live since Las Vegas last year and that was in two poorly structured £10 buy in events which are basically all in or fold from the off (and I didn't cash in either of them). So last night I went to my local haunt, the Gala Casino in Leicester.

The tournament was a £20 buy in for 3,000 chips plus a £20 add on of another 3,000 chips with 40 minute blinds starting at 50/100. At least this offers quite a bit of play, 37 players and a £1,200 prize pool paying to 5th place.

Well to say my game was rusty from the start would be an under statement. I played very poorly in the first level losing a 6th of my stack holding 77. It had folded round to the small blind and he raised to 300 chips, I re-raised him to 800 which he flat called. The flop came 6,J,A rainbow - horrible. He checked it to me and I continuation bet to which he went all in. In hindsight I probably should have took a free card to see if I could hit my set and check fold from there if I missed.

I then started to settle in and get a read on a couple of players. The guy to my left was looking at his cards as soon as he got them and looked ready to muck them if they were rubbish, so I stole a few chips from him. The woman to his left was a loose calling station and would call with overcards and mid or low pairs to the board. I just couldn't hit a top pair to take her chips to the river. Then just before the table got broken up I got QQ UTG and managed to double up after my pre flop raise and subsequent all in was called by a guy that would all in on any draw. Luckily they held up when he went for his flush draw after the flop.

So at the break I was around average chips with about 24 players left. From there on I was positioned between a loose aggressive to my right and a chip leader to my left. The cards went completely dead and I watched my stack hover at around 7000 chips. Then came my exit hand.

Blinds of 600/1,200 (average 18,000 with 12 players left). The loose aggressive to my right folds and I look down at my cards to see AA.

"Great, I have AA and the guy who has been consistently raising, stopping me from doing anything (unless with complete trash) decides to fold. So what to do? I don't just want the blinds here! I need some chips!" I have a quick look round the table to see what the players look like based on the ones that have already looked at there cards. "No one looks particularly interested, except the tight playing small blind who is leaning forward waiting for me to make a move. Is a min raise here gonna look strange with my chip stack? Possibly, i haven't played a hand for a while. When I have it has been all in and I have had no resistance. If I all in I get the blinds... I don't just want the blinds! Those chips will be gone again in two more hands. OK I'm risking it, I'm limping in. Hopefully someone will raise all in but I doubt it. I think I'm going to be against the SB & BB, well I still have 70% chance right?" And I call in 1,200 chips.

As I thought it folds to the small blind who completes and the BB checks. The flop comes Js,6d,4s. The SB instantly checks and the BB leans forwards suddenly looking interested.

"OK SB has probably missed or small paired with low to mid connectors, but the BB looks interested. Normally he looks at his cards first before checking and then folds to any bet. This time he hasn't looked at his cards, leaned forwards and checked. I think he has a piece of that!. Right, whats the pot? 3,600. Whats the point of pushing all in here? I might just as well have stole the blinds. No I'm gambling with the best hand, I want his chips. I'm going to bet 3,000, this leaves me with 2,800 behind. He'll be priced in for the river. I want him all in if he's trap checking with a J. I am going to have to risk him seeing all 5 cards if he is flushing. I need to double up here if I'm going to make the money."

I bet 3,000 chips. The SB instantly mucks. The BB then picks up his cards and looks at them again before announcing all in. I instantly call. He is holding T7 of spades for the flush draw. The turn gives him his draw and I am out of the tournament.

So what about my play here?

In a way I was not disappointed because the hand panned out exactly as I wanted it to (other than losing it). I committed myself to the gamble pre flop by just limping in. I didn't feel with my table position and chip stack I would ever make the money by taking the blinds. I am sure if I had put all 7000 in pre flop both SB and BB would have folded. But by gambling for a possible 15,000 - 21,000 chips I had much more play and leverage with which to push for the final table and the money. Then hindsight says I should have just took the blinds, who knows I could have had AA again next hand! What would I do next time under similar circumstances. I think I will play AA the standard way, raise then push. Then gamble from there if I have to. I don't make a habit of continuing to do the things that have failed to work before.

Anyway I'd like your input and comments.

Thats it for now. Practice, practice, practice.

Keep it tight!!

Writing down my goals achieves!!!!

Well, what can I say, writing down my goals has worked again. Just 10 days since I posted my goals for 2008 I have qualified for a live tournament. Now its not the WSOP or the EPT. In fact it is quite a bit smaller than that and I don't think I'll get to rub shoulders with any famous players (although they have said there will be bounties so who knows). However it is a live tournament! The event is the Virgin Poker Festival to be held at Aspers Casino in Newcastle on 12th & 13th of April. It is estimated there will be about 230 players and the first prize will be around £7,500.

So how did I qualify?

Well Poker Player magazine held a freeroll in which there were 519 entrants with 1st-10th getting their ticket to Newcastle. I came 17th and got a free entry into the sunday qualifier as did anyone who came 11th-20th.

The Sunday tournament had 114 players and paid tickets up to 11th place. I ended up finishing in the top 11 so have got my ticket for an outlay of .... well nothing (unless you take into acount the cost of my magazine).

The structure looks good and is shown below:

Prize Pool – approx £28,000 (£5000 added by Virgin Poker)
Starting Stack – 10,000
Blind Levels – 40 mins starting at 25/50

This will be the first time I will have played with a starting stack of 10,000 chips on a two day structure, so it is going to be very interesting.

I must say the satisfaction of winning this seat has given me the taste of success and boost to my game that I needed, now I want more. So the GUKPT or the GBPT is definitely my next goal ... oops I've written it down again ... hope the magic of this method continues.

Until later ...

Keep it Tight.

Goals for 2008

About 10-12 years ago I was involved in a team building course where it was stated that over 90% of business people who wrote down their personal goals achieved them. Conversely this figure drops to about 60% business success where clear goals were not defined and written down. The figures may be somewhat out but you get the idea.

Apparently there was a scientific study on this and there is an explanation as to why this might happen. When you think about things you use one side of the brain and when you write things down you use the other. So in the act of writing down your goals or desires they somehow get etched into your psyche by using both sides of the brain and are thus kept for recollection either consciously or sub-consciously. This is the same reason why making notes whilst revising for an exam is encouraged, it gives you a better chance of remembering the facts.

This is something that I have carried with me from that day to this and use this theory in my personal life at regular intervals, and it has to be said that I have achieved over 90% of the things that I have written down to date.

So with that explained I will continue here to write down my poker goals 2008.

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Firstly I wanted to set myself some financial goals. To do this I am using one of my previous written down achievements - my other hobby shown below.

I have owned a yacht for about 8 years now, but have only had the one above for approximately 2 years. It probably costs me about £3000 / year to maintain, store and use so this is my first goal. My poker winnings must match (or exceed) my yachting expenses for this season.

Secondly I have to qualify for a substantial live tournament to rub shoulders with some of the professional players in this game. To do this I am going to target the GUKPT via online qualifiers. This is something I did to some extent last year but just kept falling at the final hurdle. I am also going to look at buying into a GUKPT side event if I can get a couple of backers. £300 direct buy in is a little rich for my current tastes, but I have a couple of mates who might be ready to buy a third.

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So there are my goals. Short but brief I know but at least I have set some realistic and achievable targets.

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Month one has set me off on winning ways for the year, just hope it keeps going the same in the following months.

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Thats all for now, back to the grindstone and my passion - the poker tables.

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Keep it tight!

Don't cry over lost profits!!

My initial intention on creating this blog was to discuss my daily exploits playing poker. I was going to review a few hand histories and generally share my ups and downs playing this fantastic game. However looking at hand history after hand history would probably get very tedious for the reader. After all, when you get all your cash in with a nut full house and lose to a runner runner 55 giving the other guy quads, what more is there to write about? So for now my blog is taking a turn to the more cerebral and emotional side of poker.

I have not been working now for about two and a half months. Poker still doesn't take up as much of my time as I would like (what with decorating and the likes) but I do get to play online every day. One thing is becoming increasingly apparent though! There can be big swings in my bank roll from day to day, even hour to hour. As a consequence my mood changes along with the flow of these wins and losses - Up when winning and down after suffering a substantial loss. So what to do about this?

So far I have developed a number of techniques to help me deal with these eventualities!

First and foremost ...

Swear at the computer and stomp around the room asking myself how this idiot could have called to the river holding " ... that S**T". Its funny but following a big loss this almost always is the first phase of controlling my emotions. Joking aside though I do think this is an important part of dealing with a loss. After all, how do I celebrate a big win. By stomping round the room shouting "..Yes, Yes ... Get IN!! " or something of the sort. In essence it is letting off that tension that builds over a session of playing.

Secondly ...

Take a break. If I have just suffered badly to the cards then I will always take a break. Just walk the dog or go to the shops. Anything that will take me away from the computer and its environment. This gives me the space to think about what has just happened ... How does it affect my monthly plans? ... Did I play poorly? ... What do I now need to do to get back on track?

Finally ...

When I decide I am in the right frame of mind to start playing again I will chose a game that I know I can beat. For example I may chose a low level 5 man STT. I may even play a few of these games if I initially don't get the results I like until that confidence and winning feeling returns. Then I will continue with my normal bank rolling methods.

Generally ...

In order to maintain a modicum of sanity I tend to try and keep to the following few easy rules:

1. I try to laugh when suffering minor setbacks. Luck is a big part of the game and someone does have the right to hit their 10% chance some of the time, its just not nice when it happens against me.

2. I try to keep my emotions level by not over exaggerating my current mood. For example try not to get too irate after a beat, and try not celebrate too much after a win.

3. And this is my most important point to note to date ....... DON'T CRY OVER LOST PROFITS.

Let me explain by using the example of the beat full house above. At the time I had that hand my month had been up and down with regards to profits, but I was $250 or so in profit up to that point. That hand lost me somewhere in the region of $150, but I was still in profit afterwards.

That gives me a great psychological advantage when looking to continue playing. " ...I can take a horrendous beat like that AND STILL be a winning player .... how good is that?".

"What happens if it takes you into the negative?" I hear you ask. Well as yet I don't know, but when it does I will be sure to let you know here.

So thats it! A general emotional overview of a typical day playing poker at the Jester household.

All that remains is for me to ask you to Keep It Tight! And if any of you have methods you want to share please email me on contact@cardpedia.co.uk.

Well Done Mark !!

Just a quick note to celebrate Mark Selby and his first professional snooker title win.

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I have known Mark for about 5 years now and he is one of the most down to earth, hard working characters you will ever meet. If any one needs to learn what it takes to achieve your dreams then just continue to watch this guy. He has dedication and skill in abundance, and just refuses to give in to any negative pressures put his way.

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Well done Mark!!! You deserve it!!! Long may it continue!!!

Worst feelings from poker to date

The game of poker has dealt me some highs and lows but today has got to be the worst I have ever felt playing this beautiful game.

In the past I have woken to find my monthly profits down to zero when playing after a night out on the town; that hurt. I have since lost $500 in one night early on in my Vegas break; that was worse. But this feeling is by far the hardest to stomach.

I guess you are thinking I must've blown my whole bankroll in one session. You couldn't be further from the truth. This experience has cost me absolutely nothing - so why am I feeling so bad?

Well it all started when I got an email from Gala Poker saying that they hadn't seen me on their site for a while. If I were to come back and generate 10 points they will enter me for a $3000 restricted freeroll. I normally play these tournaments, they are a bit of fun and are normally far less subscribed to than the normal freerolls. So off I trotted to generate my 10 player points. When I had earned my ticket I logged into the tournament lobby, registered (along with two other players at that time) and waited for the weekend to play.

The weekend came along and on the morning of the tournament that started at 6pm I signed in to Gala to see how many entrants the tournament had ..... "STILL THREE??? .... wow this is going to be cancelled surely"....... "No" I think "there are gonna be some more sign in today!". So I set about playing a few 5 man single table tournaments just in case.

After above average success and about an hour before the tournament was due to start I logged back on to the Gala Tournament lobby to find that .. as I suspected .. there were more entrants .... ONE MORE!

So the tournament started with a winner takes all prize fund of $3000 dollars with 4 players. I was very nervous but seriously fancied my chances of at least getting heads up. Certainly I did not expect to go out first.

However go out first I did. It lasted only 29 hands for me, I played completely out of character and played completely hopelessly. I am not even going to post any of the hand histories as they read back so poorly. Just be rest assured I did not play to my full abilities.

So what went wrong? All I can think of is that the situation played the cards rather than myself. With such high expectation any deviation from what I imagined affected me greater than it should have. In essence I was playing on tilt without any reason to be tilted.

I should be consoled by the fact that I still have over $200 in profits this month with my new bank rolling method showing some sign of promise. I should be consoled by the fact that I lost nothing in the search of this free $3000. I should be consoled by the fact that my multi tabling has improved and that I have final tabled 3 times out of 9 tournaments and cashed in a fourth. But all that can go hang for the fact that I did myself an injustice by how I played this tournament. There was such a high reward yet I didn't show an ounce of the skills I know I possess.

BUT ... this is what I love about poker. It is not just a game of luck or skill. It is a cameo of life itself. You can carry on expecting it to all come your way and make excuses for why you didn't achieve ... OR ... you can look, learn and react to produce a better result the next time around.

These results all contain valuable lessons, and I expect to learn every single one!!

So for now .. Keep it Tight!!