XTR´s drive to midstakes

So as some of u might have noticed I haven´t been around for a week or two. I took the last days off poker, spend some time with my family, went to the bar every night with my boys, had a great christmas and a lot of fun beside all that.

I didn´t play a single hand to clear my mind and to start out fresh and focused in 08. I reread ToP and Professional NLHE and grabbed NLHE T&P to finish this one too. I bought a datamining/table selection tool for iPoker and started a new DB in PT, mainly b/c I screwed up my old DB when I installed PostgreSQL. It sucks losing 75k hands, but I look at Jan 1st 2008 as a total relaunch, so this could probably be a good thing.

My goal for 2008 is to make it to 2/4 and 3/6 NLHE. As I wrote in my last OP-thread, I´will finish university in the beginning of 09, getting my diploma in business administration and engineering. I have to be rolled for 4/4 NL live at least at the end of the year to keep poker as an attractive hobby.

I cashed out to buy christmas presents for my family and will be starting out with a BR of $5k. I´m playing on iPoker with approx. 35% RB plus reload bonusses and reactivated my party account without Rakeback. I haven´t played enough at party yet, but their PartyPoints to cash program and reload bonusses should be giving me something equalling 8-14% RB. If anyone here is playing on Party and knows exactly what rate of RB I can expect, please let me know.

I will be moving up and down in limits with the following BR management plan:

- $5k regular 0.5/1 both FR and 6max, taking a shot at 1/2 FR when tables are good

- $6.5k regular 1/2 FR and 0.5/1 6max, taking a shot at 1/2 6max when tables are good

- $10k regular 1/2 both FR and 6max, taking a shot at 2/4 FR when tables are good

- $16k regular 1/2 6max and 2/4 FR, taking a shot at 2/4 6max when tables are good

I´m not limiting myself to playing only FR or 6max, mmainly because traffic at FR tables is pretty low at midstakes on working days.

I haven´t had the time yet to put all of my adjustements in words. What I can say so far is:

- I will be tightening up in EP and therefore look for more opportunities to 3bet in LP

- I will be playing less tables

- When I´m asking myself, if I should play or not I will not play. I won´t play tired or tilted or when in a hurry. I will only play when tables are good and I am able to play my A-game. If one of these conditions doesnt apply I will go out running, go to the gym or have sex. I expect this adjustement to have the biggest impact on my game. I know I have a tilt problem, and nothing tilts me more than playing like a idiot.

- I will post a sessions biggest winners/losers no matter what. I will go through PT after a session and look at my hands and stats and my opponents. I will make helpful player notes.

OP starts on Jan 1st 2008. [/list]

op has started this afternoon, 400 hands at 05/1 6max for a net loss of $40

Biggest pot won:
Villian is 24/8 over 300 mined hands. I´ve been playing tight, havent got involved in BvB confrontations. Called flop planning to bet/raise any turn.
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($68.22)
UTG+1 ($217.15)
CO ($126.10)
BTN ($139.10)
SB ($58.38)
Hero ($101.50)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 6 players) Hero is BB Three of Spades

4 folds, SB raises to $3.5, Hero calls $2.5

Flop: Three of Clubs

($7, 2 players)
SB bets $4, Hero calls $4

Turn: King of Spades

($15, 2 players)
SB bets $11, Hero raises to $26, SB goes all-in $39.88, Hero calls $24.88

River: Jack of Spades

($116.76, 2 players)

Final Pot: $113.76
SB shows: Ace of Diamonds

Hero shows: Three of Spades

Hero wins $113.76 ( won +$55.38 )
SB lost -$58.38

Biggest pot lost:
Villian is unknown. And I obv fucked this one up. Comments on turn are welcome

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
Hero ($96.90)
UTG+1 ($99.85)
CO ($121.40)
BTN ($36.20)
SB ($157.28)
BB ($98.75)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 6 players) Hero is UTG Six of Hearts

Hero raises to $3, 4 folds, BB calls $2

Flop: Nine of Clubs

($6.5, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $4.5, BB calls $4.5

Turn: Nine of Diamonds

($15.5, 2 players)
BB bets $15, Hero raises to $46, BB goes all-in $76.25, Hero folds

Final Pot: $149.75

BB wins $149.75 ( won +$51 )
Hero lost -$53.50

Another turn I´m not sure how I played this. Villian is 24/6. I thought about checking turn behind, but then I decided to bet to get value from KJ/AT/JJ, planning to c/f river

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($156.53)
UTG+1 ($113.32)
Hero ($100.00)
BTN ($95.15)
SB ($91.20)
BB ($30.50)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 6 players) Hero is CO Queen of Hearts

2 folds, Hero raises to $3, 1 fold, SB calls $2.5, 1 fold

Flop: Nine of Diamonds

($7, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $5, SB calls $5

Turn: Eight of Diamonds

($17, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $13, SB raises to $26, Hero folds

Final Pot: $53.85

SB wins $53.85 ( won +$19.85 )
Hero lost -$21.00

Quick update: I still suck

played 1k hands yesterday, am down one BI at 05/1 and this is the hand that cost me the last stack. I always pick the wrong spots do take a stand.

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
10 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($30.40)
UTG+1 ($141.65)
UTG+2 ($110.01)
MP1 ($27.41)
MP2 ($130.36)
MP3 ($100.65)
CO ($100.88)
BTN ($98.50)
Hero ($130.94)
BB ($209.18)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 10 players) Hero is SB Eight of Hearts

6 folds, CO raises to $2, 1 fold, Hero raises to $9, 1 fold, CO calls $7

Flop: Ace of Diamonds

($19, 2 players)
Hero bets $14, CO calls $14

Turn: Three of Spades

($47, 2 players)
Hero checks, CO bets $25, Hero raises to $75, CO goes all-in $52.88, Hero calls $2.88

River: Seven of Spades

($202.76, 2 players)

Final Pot: $202.76
CO shows: Ace of Hearts

Hero shows: Eight of Hearts

CO wins $199.76 ( won +$98.88 )
Hero lost -$100.88

-210

BR $4650

+90
BR 4740

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
5 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($169.45)
CO ($56.90)
BTN ($99.15)
Hero ($103.45)
BB ($49.55)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 5 players) Hero is SB Four of Spades

2 folds, BTN raises to $4, Hero raises to $14.5, 1 fold, BTN calls $10.5

Flop: Six of Clubs

($30, 2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $20, Hero goes all-in $88.95, BTN goes all-in $64.65

Turn: Jack of Diamonds

($203.6, 2 players)

River: Six of Hearts

($203.6, 2 players)

Final Pot: $200.60
BTN shows: Eight of Diamonds

Hero shows: Four of Spades

Hero wins $200.6 ( won +$97.15 )
BTN lost -$99.15

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($157.30)
UTG+1 ($48.70)
CO ($99.50)
Hero ($101.65)
SB ($100.50)
BB ($82.00)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 6 players) Hero is BTN Nine of Diamonds

3 folds, Hero raises to $4, 1 fold, BB calls $3

Flop: Queen of Hearts

($8.5, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $6, BB calls $6

Turn: King of Diamonds

($20.5, 2 players)
BB bets $8, Hero raises to $28, BB calls $20

River: Eight of Clubs

($76.5, 2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $44, BB goes all-in $44

Final Pot: $161.50
BB shows: Six of Clubs

Hero shows: Nine of Diamonds

Hero wins $161.5 ( won +$79.5 )
BB lost -$82.00

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
6 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($97.50)
UTG+1 ($45.05)
CO ($106.10)
BTN ($197.55)
SB ($111.65)
Hero ($100.00)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 6 players) Hero is BB Eight of Spades

4 folds, SB raises to $4, Hero calls $3

Flop: Jack of Clubs

($8, 2 players)
SB bets $6, Hero calls $6

Turn: Two of Diamonds

($20, 2 players)
SB bets $15, Hero calls $15

River: Two of Spades

($50, 2 players)
SB bets $35, Hero calls $35

Final Pot: $117.00
SB shows: King of Clubs

Hero shows: Eight of Spades

SB wins $117 ( won +$57 )
Hero lost -$60.00

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
5 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($142.50)
CO ($99.50)
BTN ($240.28)
Hero ($97.50)
BB ($100.00)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 5 players) Hero is SB Ace of Spades

UTG calls $1, 1 fold, BTN calls $1, Hero calls $0.5, BB checks

Flop: Nine of Spades

($4, 4 players)
Hero bets $3, 1 fold, UTG calls $3, 1 fold

Turn: Six of Spades

($10, 2 players)
Hero bets $6, UTG calls $6

River: Seven of Hearts

($22, 2 players)
Hero bets $14, UTG raises to $90, Hero folds

Final Pot: $123.50

UTG wins $123.5 ( won +$23.5 )
Hero lost -$24.00
BB lost -$1.00
BTN lost -$1.00

That straight vs boat hand was just messed up.

+80
BR 4820

played a tiny session FR today for a nice $80 profit. Nothing big happened, cards made it a small pot session. Tangled with shorties a lot, stacked some of them, doubled others up....geez I wish there was more traffic on full stack only tables. I wont play a lot the next days, I´m ill and until now it has been getting worse and worse, today I wasn´t able to stay focused for more than 1 1/2 hrs and I have a gigantic headache.

Todays hands are quite unspectacular

biggest pot won

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
10 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($36.45)
Hero ($113.85)
UTG+2 ($20.35)
MP1 ($21.50)
MP2 ($101.50)
MP3 ($91.45)
CO ($17.00)
BTN ($106.21)
SB ($84.30)
BB ($72.62)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 10 players) Hero is UTG+1 King of Hearts

UTG raises to $3, Hero raises to $14, 7 folds, BB goes all-in $0, UTG calls $11

Flop: Ace of Spades

($29.5, 3 players)
UTG goes all-in $22.45, Hero calls $22.45

Turn: Seven of Diamonds

($74.4, 3 players)

River: Nine of Spades

($74.4, 3 players)

Final Pot: $71.40
BB shows: Two of Clubs

UTG shows: King of Diamonds

Hero shows: King of Hearts

Hero wins $71.4 ( won +$34.95 )
BB lost -$1.00
UTG lost -$36.45

biggest pot lost

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($100.00)
UTG+1 ($19.00)
MP1 ($42.20)
Hero ($109.25)
MP3 ($44.50)
CO ($142.50)
BTN ($77.95)
SB ($41.31)
BB ($39.20)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 9 players) Hero is MP2 Queen of Diamonds

3 folds, Hero raises to $4, 3 folds, SB calls $3.5, 1 fold

Flop: Ten of Diamonds

($9, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $7, SB calls $7

Turn: Six of Diamonds

($23, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $17, SB goes all-in $30.31, Hero calls $13.31

River: Eight of Diamonds

($83.62, 2 players)

Final Pot: $80.62
SB shows: Ace of Clubs

Hero shows: Queen of Diamonds

SB wins $80.62 ( won +$39.31 )
Hero lost -$41.31

This was the only hand I spewed badly. Im preoud of myself I havent pulled of these stupid moves the last 1.5k hands. After that hand I put an even larger DNBD! note on my monitor

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
10 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($39.20)
UTG+1 ($100.00)
UTG+2 ($24.15)
MP1 ($17.50)
MP2 ($40.70)
MP3 ($97.00)
CO ($44.30)
BTN ($142.90)
SB ($76.95)
BB ($84.07)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 10 players)
2 folds, UTG+2 calls $1, 2 folds, MP3 calls $1, 3 folds, BB raises to $3, UTG+2 calls $2, MP3 calls $2

Flop: Five of Hearts

($9.5, 3 players)
BB bets $5, 1 fold, MP3 calls $5

Turn: Nine of Hearts

($19.5, 2 players)
BB bets $5, MP3 raises to $22, BB calls $17

River: Nine of Spades

($63.5, 2 players)
BB checks, MP3 checks

Final Pot: $60.50
BB shows: Ace of Diamonds

MP3 shows: Four of Diamonds

+$100
+$55 RB
BR $4955

a´ight, another day in shortieland. Played 700 hands this afternoon. I´m ill and can´t go to class, neither can I do sports or date girls or do anything outside my appartement, so I guess I´ll be grinding. Again, nothing spectacular happened and I didn´t think/study poker much at all. Here are recent sessions hands:

Biggest pot won:
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
10 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($26.80)
UTG+1 ($22.50)
UTG+2 ($19.50)
MP1 ($53.15)
MP2 ($79.31)
MP3 ($20.00)
CO ($15.65)
BTN ($37.50)
SB ($20.50)
Hero ($105.50)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 10 players) Hero is BB Eight of Diamonds

7 folds, BTN raises to $2, 1 fold, Hero calls $1

Flop: Jack of Diamonds

($4.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $3, BTN raises to $6, Hero calls $3

Turn: Two of Diamonds

($16.5, 2 players)
Hero checks, BTN bets $5, Hero calls $5

River: Nine of Clubs

($26.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $25, BTN goes all-in $24.5

Final Pot: $73.00
BTN shows: King of Diamonds

Hero shows: Eight of Diamonds

Hero wins $73 ( won +$35 )
BTN lost -$37.50

Biggest pot lost:
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
10 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($17.30)
Hero ($102.30)
UTG+2 ($100.00)
MP1 ($144.51)
MP2 ($35.32)
MP3 ($18.50)
CO ($271.08)
BTN ($24.22)
SB ($83.00)
BB ($129.58)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 10 players) Hero is UTG+1 Queen of Spades

1 fold, Hero raises to $4, 1 fold, MP1 calls $4, 3 folds, BTN calls $4, 2 folds

Flop: Nine of Hearts

($13.5, 3 players)
Hero bets $9.5, MP1 calls $9.5, BTN calls $9.5

Turn: Five of Hearts

($42, 3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $10, BTN goes all-in $10.72, Hero calls $10.72, MP1 calls $0.72

River: Seven of Diamonds

($74.16, 3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $30, Hero calls $30

Final Pot: $131.16
Hero shows: Queen of Spades

MP1 shows: Five of Spades

BTN shows: King of Clubs

MP1 wins $131.16 ( won +$76.94 )
Hero lost -$54.22
BTN lost -$24.22

Pulling off spewy moves is still probably one of my biggest leaks. I made some moves today I like to hear others opinions to. If these hands might look trivial to you, let me know. I just seem to judge my moves extremely result oriented, like when it works I pwn, when it doesnt the others are donkeys or something.

#1 Villian is 19/7 and weak postflop. I wouldn´t play like this against a thinking player who knows I´ll raise Axdd on this flop

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($107.20)
UTG+1 ($100.00)
MP1 ($206.42)
MP2 ($14.85)
Hero ($98.50)
CO ($25.05)
BTN ($74.50)
SB ($84.43)
BB ($101.12)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 9 players) Hero is MP3 Four of Hearts

UTG raises to $2.2, 3 folds, Hero calls $2.2, 4 folds

Flop: Eight of Diamonds

($5.9, 2 players)
UTG bets $3, Hero calls $3

Turn: Four of Diamonds

($11.9, 2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $6.5, UTG folds

Final Pot: $17.85

Hero wins $17.85 ( won +$6.15 )
UTG lost -$5.20

#2 Villian is 10/8. His value bets are usually smaller.
$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
8 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($106.40)
UTG+1 ($97.15)
MP1 ($110.95)
MP2 ($44.55)
CO ($48.25)
Hero ($129.30)
SB ($21.90)
BB ($49.00)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 8 players) Hero is BTN Jack of Diamonds

UTG raises to $4, 4 folds, Hero calls $4, 2 folds

Flop: King of Spades

($9.5, 2 players)
UTG bets $8, Hero raises to $22, UTG folds

Final Pot: $38.25

Hero wins $38.25 ( won +$12.25 )
UTG lost -$12.00

Yo XTR, you are based in Germany, right?

Is it true they banned poker there too? Or have I (hopefully) been misinformed?

+ $330
BR $5285

@Jack: Ya, I´m in Germany. Gambling itself is illegal here, aside from state controlled casinos. Onlinepoker isn´t banned, but isnt allowed either, its sort of tolerated. There are rumours gov wants to ban online gambling, but its practically impossible to lock the poker sites.

Session 2 today - yay yay, feels good to run hot after losing/breaking even for 35k hands.

#1 Nice

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($20.00)
UTG+1 ($17.50)
MP1 ($102.85)
Hero ($103.00)
MP3 ($95.65)
CO ($70.40)
BTN ($46.95)
SB ($54.80)
BB ($47.05)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 9 players) Hero is MP2 Ace of Spades

2 folds, MP1 calls $1, Hero raises to $5, MP3 raises to $15, 4 folds, MP1 folds, Hero raises to $97, MP3 goes all-in $80.65

Flop: Nine of Spades

($195.15, 2 players)

Turn: Jack of Clubs

($195.15, 2 players)

River: Nine of Clubs

($195.15, 2 players)

Final Pot: $192.15
Hero shows: Ace of Spades

MP3 shows: King of Hearts

Hero wins $192.15 ( won +$95.15 )
MP1 lost -$1.00
MP3 lost -$95.65

#2 Not nice

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
10 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG ($98.90)
UTG+1 ($144.25)
UTG+2 ($32.45)
MP1 ($100.00)
MP2 ($67.70)
MP3 ($153.55)
CO ($150.20)
BTN ($43.25)
Hero ($99.20)
BB ($100.50)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 10 players) Hero is SB King of Spades

3 folds, MP1 raises to $4, 4 folds, Hero raises to $16, 1 fold, MP1 calls $12

Flop: Two of Clubs

($33, 2 players)
Hero checks, MP1 bets $30, Hero goes all-in $83.2, MP1 calls $53.2

Turn: Two of Diamonds

($199.4, 2 players)

River: Three of Clubs

($199.4, 2 players)

Final Pot: $196.40
Hero shows: King of Spades

MP1 shows: Ace of Hearts

MP1 wins $196.4 ( won +$97.2 )
Hero lost -$99.20

#3

$0.5/$1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
Hero ($99.00)
UTG+1 ($113.85)
MP1 ($18.50)
MP2 ($34.25)
MP3 ($93.53)
CO ($62.84)
BTN ($98.50)
SB ($90.68)
BB ($94.90)

Pre-flop: ($1.5, 9 players) Hero is UTG Ten of Clubs

Hero raises to $4, 4 folds, CO calls $4, 3 folds

Flop: Queen of Spades

($9.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $6.5, CO calls $6.5

Turn: Jack of Clubs

($22.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $16, CO calls $16

River: Four of Diamonds

($54.5, 2 players)
Hero bets $37, CO goes all-in $36.34

Final Pot: $124.84
CO shows: Ace of Spades

Hero shows: Ten of Clubs

Hero wins $124.84 ( won +$61.34 )

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