After much requests from fellow micropiants, i have decided to record the memoirs of my struggle with chance and discipline, here in a blog thingy detailing my second arrival at 10nl, and how i am managing (hopefully) to stay here.

First attempt: BOOM went poker tracker as i exploded through 5nl like superman. 5k hands of blistering heater action, debris in the form of spades and diamonds peeling off my afterburn as i climbed quickly toward the 20 buy-in minimum and the glorious 10nl stake. I was going to be rich some day.

Thing is, it all went wrong after ONE hand (and maybe another mini hand). I was starting out by buying in for $8, test the water. I had worked my way up to $14.5 through good hard work. Got dealt 44 and called a raise multiway... wow, i thought, i'd like to hit that 4 please, take all dis munny. BAM. Four hits the flop like a left hook from the champeeen o' the wuurl. Bet, raise, re-raise, all-in i went against someone who had me covered. Flop was dry, something like J48 rainbow. Villain turns over 88. Having just come from 5nl, that felt like 3 buy-ins. Then i lost another $5 some place else and figured it was time to move back. Then i went on a two buy-in pisser at 5 too. Poker was not my friend.

This time round: I hit the forums and whined and whinged and even though i did it in a cute way, i still got a smacked bot from mods and other folk. But some heeded my sincere plea and offered much help. I ground my way up and studied more and played at different times of day etc. Now I was ready for 10nl @ 26 buy-ins and even more skill than last time.

First session: was scared shitless. I started ONE table and concentrated. Snapped at that note taking window as SOON as i smelled fish. After an hour i was just over a buy-in up and called it a sesh.

The feesh were hardcore. TOTAL calling stations beyond belief. TPGK was usually enough but i had to be careful, one such fish turned over the ace high flush against another guy. Don't get cocky, i thought. But then i look around and notice all the fish are gone and everyone's stats are red (my colour code for tag). Fuck. Well, it was a nice session so i walked away happy. But table selection at 10 will be double the job it was at 5.

Some thoughts on my lunchbreak stroll:

I thought of a list of poker priorities... here they are:

1) Bankroll Management (obviously)
2) Understanding variance and time frames of winning/playing
3) Poker attitude, the discipline, the focus, the psychology
4) The poker community/study thereof
5) position
6) Profitable pre flop ranges
7) Poker tracking software
8) Bet sizing
9) Learning odds, outs etc.
10) Ranges

This list is kind of loose. Had a hard time sorting it. But roughly that's what my top 10 priorities are. Feel free to write your own and correct me!

So, wish me luck in getting to a stable place in 10nl. As of today my BR = $270 and i think i shall start to relax when i get to $300 and feel totally settled at about $400. So that's my goal for now. Get settled and stable at around $400. Then the next op will be about getting to $25nl.