Operation: $2NL to $200NL [PHASE I: Microstakes] - COMPLETE

Ok just finished my last session before I go to NYC. Looks like I'll be playing 10nl when I get back :O. I can't believe I burned through 5nl this fast. 10 hours of playing an average of 3 tables or so.

The sickest heater I've ever experienced. I was also extremely focused on playing well, so that made things easier. Kinda hard to play bad when you run this good though...now only if I can run this hot at 25nl haha, enjoy the graph....

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/153/5nlheater.png

I only stacked off light once, but it was one of those wtf pot odds call type stack offs. Be sick if the heater continues for a bit, but I'm going to brace myself for some gross suckouts now.

Damn this is a great start for a fresh page. Seemed like the entire last one was horrifying :/

[x] $50 at 5nl -------COMPLETE
[ ] $100 at 10nl -------Begins Tuesday

Update:

Alright so I made it back from New York. I had a good time even though it rained all weekend. I'll be back to grinding + study this week. Might throw up a couple tables tonight but I'll most likely start tomorrow. I have 4 books on my list to read so I guess I better get to it.

Good to hear you had a good time dude. Was hoping to catch you on MSN once I seen that your back, o wells. We gotta set up a sweat session some time soon. I need to hear someone bitching me out for trying to double barrel fish lol. Pwn teh 10enels and move up to 25nl already! ;)

lol I have an $820 bankroll playing 10nl. But I'm trying to work out some kinks - it ain't for the money it's for the game.

I'll be lurking the IRC and MSN all week and I'll definately be down for a sweat session.

Yea man, I know why you're doing it, just saying hurry up and make that $100 there so we can beat the shit out of stupid TAGfish! :)

Aw crap. You're back. I guess that means I'll be seeing you around 10NL? That's definitely not good. GO UP TO 25NL WITH THE QUICKNESS!

Oh yeah...and welcome back. Sorry it rained here all weekend.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BooG690

Aw crap. You're back. I guess that means I'll be seeing you around 10NL? That's definitely not good. GO UP TO 25NL WITH THE QUICKNESS!

Oh yeah...and welcome back. Sorry it rained here all weekend.

---

O come on BooG, Micro is like the BIGGEST fish ever. So easily exploited. ;) When you are playing him and you have air (or a monster, either one) flip a coin. Heads = shove or a massive overbet; Tails = tiny bet/less than half pot. Shit gets him EVERY time. :)

just gay bet like $.40 into a $3 pot and I'll fold

Update:

Operation rebuild is going well. I seem to have my focus back and am playing much better. 5nl is complete thanks to a massive heater, and I'm now grinding 10nl for awhile.

May is a busy month for me outside of poker, but I think I might be able to get on pace for a new goal.

I'm not going to go out of my way to put in the volume, however, I think I may have a pretty decent shot at hitting GoldStar this month. Doing so will give me a nice boost for grinding in June since my FPP multiplier will go up (and in June I expect to get in more volume, so more volume=more fpps = more money :D). Plus I want to gain entry into the GoldStar tourneys since they're of great value.

Anyway, this isn't really an official goal but more of a loose target I guess. I don't want to have to increase tables and let my play deteriorate just because I'm shooting for a certain # of FPP's. I'll see how it goes and determine whether or not it's probable as the month carrys forward.

I don't understand why I run so hot at 5nl yet constantly get sucked out on at 10nl.

http://weaktight.com/1065043 - just a sample

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

I don't understand why I run so hot at 5nl yet constantly get sucked out on at 10nl.

---

Word. I feel there are more calling stations up here than there were at 5NL. It's either that or the stations have a wider range at 10NL. We're just going to have to charge these stations a whole lot to draw out on us.

yeah, well I haven't played nearly enough hands in May to worry about the results. I pretty much laughed about yesterdays session since I was coolered a few times and had a few 75% edges all in preflop that wouldn't hold, yet still only managed to be down a buy-in

So no big deal really, the math will catch up eventually.

The hand vs QQ is funny because I imagine he'd probably just call down unimproved to the river for stacks anyway - notice how he limped preflop.

Update:

Been doing a shit load of study relative to play lately.

But I did manage to get in some hands! Though this was a change of pace actually...

I played 31 $1 regular DON SNG's today :/ - Won 22/31 lol. I'm going to play about 100 or so regular speeds at the $1 level till I get a good grasp of them, then depending on how I do at the $5 I'll just make the jump to $10 quicker since I've got the roll.

So today I made a shitty bluff for -20bb.

I called off 55bb in a marginal spot where I was in doubt and probably should have folded.

35bb called in 1 other spot that has been confirmed to be a poor call.

So that is....110bb's that could have been saved. I'm not too impressed so I wrote this note above my workstation and played pretty well since:

"A bet saved contributes to your earnings and improves your win rate."

Played 3k hands today. It's been awhile since I gave it a really good grind. The roll is creeping up. Played some 25nl today for the first time in awhile, more to come later next week/possibly earlier depending on how I feel.

This summer is going to be a huge grindshow for me. I've been doing alot of studying lately to prepare myself for the challenges that are ahead.

Mike Caro has a pretty sick write-up on this in his Fundamental Secrets book. He writes that any money you DON'T lose is JUST as good as money you don't win. This seems obvious...but a lot of players don't see it that way. They treat their wins and losses differently.

Another way of putting it:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike Caro

$2875 my actual loss
-$2050 worth of bad cards
= $825 I could have save

---

I'm sure you've seen all this before but I figured I'd post it up for others to see. Good luck bro and thanks for the help (with ranges and such)!

It's hard b/c we see folding as losing the money in the pot, not realizing our stacks are much larger lol.

Citizenwind on Cardrunners calls folding a shit-ton in small pots "dodging bullets." Ideally all our won pots would be medium-large and our lost pots would be small/genuine coolers (so not TPTK on a dry board vs. c/rs at the micros lol) and folding in small pots is the easiest way to ensure that.

The pot is never ours. The pot is shared between all the players in that pot. Once we make a bet...it's a sunk cost and we must forget and not make future decisions based on that sunk cost.

I like Illfavors note on the small pot thing, I need to keep that in mind as a priority when it comes to facing resistance postflop.

Also Mike Caro writes some pretty good stuff regarding tilt etc, I'm definately going to be re-reading his book soon to keep up the momentum.

Just some words for my mind to think about and get me into gear for playing well. I thought I might as well post here and share. Read them over slowly and let your mind embrace them. It's amazing what a difference it can make to just read through this list before a session.

Discipline,

Focus,

Control,

Calm,

Careful,

Confident,

Endurance,

Positive expectation,

Talent.


(I swear I'm not some weird psychotic arts student or anything on acid, lolz enjoy)

Keep going bro. I'm impressed by your dedication, many would be given up on some of the really nasty downswings you had. Out of curiosity, I know you are playing cash games and some MTTs, but what about SNGs?

Also: Gotta update us with a graph. What average no. hands are you playing per day? Just curious.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dragntail

Keep going bro. I'm impressed by your dedication, many would be given up on some of the really nasty downswings you had. Out of curiosity, I know you are playing cash games and some MTTs, but what about SNGs?

Also: Gotta update us with a graph. What average no. hands are you playing per day? Just curious.

---

I got into DON sng's for a change recently.

I used to grind SNG's on a second rate site without knowing much but still owned because the players were horrible, that and some small MTT's.

My 'downswings' have been not only a product of 'variance', but mostly poor play. I take full repsonsibility for it as well. I had alot of shit going on in April IRL and as a result I played shit ass poor poker and make like $11. Probably should have cut the volume but I decided otherwise. The 'true variance' probably only lasted for 5k hands or something really.

This month my volume has increased, despite taking a week vacation. I've played about 2500 hands a day for the past 3 days. About half of those hands were DON's though, the rest cash. I'm going to be grinding cash more this week though. I'm aiming for GoldStar this month so I need to get my ass in gear. I also have to move this week so that will cut into the grind time.

So other than cash I've been playing some 2.20 turbo's here and there, and a few low buy-in ($2) MTT's. ROI isn't spectacular or anything, but on OPR it fails to take into account an FTR tourney I placed 2nd in for a nice prize.

Speaking of MTT's I'll be playing some of those this week as well.

Graph will be posted when I hit $1k and I'll explain how I got there/what held me back etc. I'm running hot this month so I'm going to ride the momentum and make some dolla's.

As for progress on GoldStar I have 2,765 VPP's to go. Looks like quite a few at this point but I expect the growth to take off as I'm now rolled (again) for 25nl.

Oh and I still try and learn stuff while I'm away from the table, despite the fact that it looks like I've turned into a grindbot. Thanks for stopping by :)

Update:

Just had a pretty decent 25nl session. Lost KK>AK and had a fish suckout on me a couple times to pad the heater a bit but other than that pretty good session overall, managed to get the money in good for full stacks a couple times so that helped. Nice to actually run good at this level for once :)

I've come to realize that 25nl isn't all that different from 5nl. Just a few less fish, and the regs are a bit taggier as opposed to being so weak tight at 5nl.

I notice the blawg audiences like to see reults so I'll post some, though I'm not a huge fan of doing it.

I've collected 490 VPP's this month. I'm going to hopefully rake in 100 or more tomorrow (I always say this yet it never happens lol), and get that $16 cash credit before the weekend.

Roll is @ $933

Going to play some DON's tomorrow after I grind cash for a bit. I'm going to finish off my series of $1 games and if I'm still profitable (lol) I'll hit up the $5 ones. By grinding 25nl and DON's I'm hoping to exceed 100vpps on the day.

Alright I'm going to post a couple hands that I played during the week from $10nl 6-max.

Hand 1: Villain is unknown as this is his 2nd or 3rd hand at the table and he hasn't done anything till now. Okay so given villains turn raise, I think his range is actually crushing me here if he has 2 pair broadway combo's, made straights, and sets in his range. However I don't think a set is very likely since we could assume he'd 3bet JJ+ most of the time preflop I guess, and to be even nittier QQ+, so assuming this we sort of knock sets completely out (or use as a small weight to his total range). Thus it looks like his range has alot of 2pair+made draws+unmade draws in it. Probably KT and possibly QT in there as well with some Axs 'some of the time'. What do you guys think? In the heat of the moment is this a crying call or perhaps a fold?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (4 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

Button ($3.25)
SB ($4.60)
BB ($5.95)
Hero (UTG) ($10.10)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif
Hero bets $0.40, 1 fold, SB calls $0.35, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.90) Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.60, SB calls $0.60

Turn: ($2.10) 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $1.40, SB raises to $3.60 (All-In), Hero...




Hand 2: Okay this hand was interesting because the way it played out I sort of came up with more reasons to bet as the streets progressed, to the point where I fired off 3barrels. I feel a bit meh about it though as I'm reallly dealing with some imperfect information but I ended up making assumptions anyway.

I think I'll explain my thought process on the street(s) that get the most questions and criticism on after you guys see the hand. I think this may be a bit of a spew, though I don't think he has any sets in his range since I probably would have heard about them before the river, and flush draws didn't get there, so I imagine that's a big chunk of his range that can't call another bet.

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($29.80)
MP ($10)
Hero (CO) ($20.40)
Button ($7.60)
SB ($16.35)
BB ($11.40)

Preflop: Hero is CO with 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif
2 folds, Hero bets $0.40, Button calls $0.40, 2 folds

Flop: ($0.95) 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 3http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
Hero bets $0.60, Button calls $0.60

Turn: ($2.15) Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
Hero bets $1.20, Button calls $1.20

River: ($4.55) Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players)
Hero bets $2.60

I'm actually quite unsure what range to assign him on the river, so if there's any thoughts on that I can run the calculations on whether the river bet is profitable or not once I get some more input.

Thanks guys,

-m2m

H1- We need like <25% equity here to call. Do you have it?, etc.

H2- Meh, I think this is probably spew. 2barrelling w/o an idea of the villains calling range is like burning money, except you don't get to see the fire so it's even worse. Meh, his range. Some ideas about rivar ranges: 44,66-99, Ax/Kxss.

I guess a picture is worth 1000 words...so I won't bother saying anything else.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6900/1000e.jpg

:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

I guess a picture is worth 1000 words...so I won't bother saying anything else.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6900/1000e.jpg

:D

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I see what you did there...with the 1000 words, $1000...


I like that. $50NL is just around the corner!

nice work

gogogo!

nice werk so far

Thanks guys.

Well interestingly enough..I've been playing alot more 6-max lately, to the point where I don't even consider full ring my 'main game'. Full ring tilts me to no end. I just get bored and end up forcing things. I've spewed at full ring so bad for the past few weeks, I guess I'm just sick of it.

I have to admit this is majorly influenced by running really well at 6-max. But given the 'action' in 6-max games I find it easier to pay attention and take notes, and not have to play as many tables to keep myself from going insane.

I'm trying to work out some things in my 6-max game and I feel like I've improved alot over the past 10k hands. I'm still uber-nitty though, but I think I'm slowly becoming accustomed to playing more junky hands and learning how to better leverage position.

First lesson with spoon on Thursday. I'm pumped.

Good work on the 1k dude! You'll be flying by me before too long. It's ok if you are playing 6max lol. Its YOUR blog/op, theres no need to placate anyone but yourself. I switched from 6max to FR, and might be switching to LHE in mine before too long :/. I don't really care if anyone likes my decisions or not, I'm doing what I think needs to be done to make me a better player and obv what I WANT to play.

I'm so frickin jealous you're getting coaching while I'm gone. :( You're gonna be raping 50nl/taking shots at 100nl by the time I get back imo. Good luck man!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dranger7070

I don't really care if anyone likes my decisions or not, I'm doing what I think needs to be done to make me a better player and obv what I WANT to play.

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This is like so unbelieveably important that I think this alone gives you a huge edge. You take your ego and you leave it at home when you play, no wonder you've accomplished a lot this year already.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dranger7070

I'm so frickin jealous you're getting coaching while I'm gone. :( You're gonna be raping 50nl/taking shots at 100nl by the time I get back imo. Good luck man!

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heh, knowin you you'll find a way to catch up :D. It's only a few months, which will eventually be a dent down the road. A sense some 50k hand weeks from u sir

Dont sweat opening your range up in 6-max. For starters its not the most important thing at micro stakes, and it just tends to open up gradually. I went from 15/12 to 21/16 and really couldnt say when or what I changed, it just evolved as I became more comfortable.

should be pretty easy to tell how your stats change that much, I'd think.

I do agree that as you get more comfy they should open up naturally

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dranger7070

I don't really care if anyone likes my decisions or not, I'm doing what I think needs to be done to make me a better player and obv what I WANT to play.

---

This is like so unbelieveably important that I think this alone gives you a huge edge. You take your ego and you leave it at home when you play, no wonder you've accomplished a lot this year already.

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Lol, thats the general idea at least. Sometimes its hard to do what YOU really want to do. Peer pressure is a bitch. ;)

But seriously, just do what is natural for you. I have a friend who loves 6max but keeps trying to force FR because I have done well there. What he doesn't understand is that, while I put up with playing 6max from time to time, its really not my game.

I could probably become proficient at it, given time, but right now its just not high on the list of priorities. I much prefer the FR game where people's ranges are much narrower, and therefore, easier to identify. It is a weakness in my game that I can't hand read as well as I would like to, but that is why I am playing the variation that allows me to use what skill I DO have to its fullest extent.

I may not be developing as a "well rounded" poker player right now, but I'm ok with that. I'm learning the skills that are needed to beat the game I am playing. I got nothing but time, so I can learn 6max, HU, whatever else I feel like it after I get settled in.

Yeah it makes sense that VPIP would eventually open up a bit for me. I gave it some though and here are some of the reasons why I think bjaust suggested that I will open my game up over time:

a) after getting more experience at 6max I will be able to identify thinner value preflop that I otherwise overlooked, thus will slowly begin picking up more spots to open/isolate that I never saw before.
b) I will begin to develop a better sense of when to 3bet light/squeeze, which is something that hasn't quite developed yet for my game since I'm still grinding micro's, thus the games are softer so there's not usually a need to be 3betting light unless coming across another TAG who is stealing alot.
c) getting better postflop will naturally give me more opportunity to play wider ranges preflop, because of the ability to outmaneuver opponents.

I've began isolating much wider vs a few opponents in my last couple sessions who I had reads on postflop. One player would c/f almost any missed flop, while another would always donk the turn when I checked the flop, so I could check back alot of missed hands on the flop and raise turns where I felt he wasn't representing anything on the board that fits in his range.

I suppose it's really a matter of really paying alot of attention to your opponents and finding 'non-standard' plays that exploit their tendencies to gain more EV.

I've also discovered that in 6max you can use your image to your advantage more, even at the micro's. For example after showing down a strong hand after making a preflop raise you can really run the table over until they adjust (adjust = get sick of you raising alot and then make spew plays back at you).

Yeah, even though a lot of your EV comes from the blinds folding, becoming more confident postflop definately helps your confidence in raising weaker hands PF.

Hey dude, like I told you on MSN, I'm kinda just going through everyone's blogs and saying goodbye before I ship. It's been fun talking poker with you these last couple months, and I can't wait to hit up Niagara next year sometime.

I'm pretty eager to see where both you and BooG are at when I get back. It will be depressing playing catch up, but I get to shoot an M16! :lol: Please be raping 50nl by the time I get back lol.

Good luck this summer man, you deserve to run good for the next 5 months imo.

fml.

this operation has lost all direction


http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/134...ninghotobv.png

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/227...owevandspe.png

'EV' is about + 1 buy-in. Which doesn't account for the numerous ridicoulous set/sets on flop, KK vs AA all in preflop etc. etc. etc.

I obv spewed a few, bet/called instead of bet/folded in a few spots..but seriosuly. I'm only human. Any other micro grinder going through this would be compelte bust imo. I'm just lucky I use extreme bankroll management.

O dat big giant line is set/set twice and AA all in 3 way preflop, all within literally a few seconds. Then obviously I didn't play good after that.

After that there's 1 buyin spew where I got into a raise war with some reg with the second nut flush draw + gutshot draw on flop, then I bet/called the river with AA getting 5:1 when it was lol obvious I was beat cuz min raises are the nuts.

/wrists now

Going to be doing alot of studying this week.

TAP needs to be read to the end still, as do many other things.

In that case, I won't be playing much.

Okay I'm done spazzing now. Everyone experiences variance so fuck it. It's just gay that it seems to ONLY happen at 25nl and then I just run sick hot and 2 outer everyone at 10nl etc. etc. so lol my $/hour is higher at 10nl (ldo I'm losing at 25nl) and I can't seem to lose a pot at 10nl unless I do something uber retarded like shove T high.

KK, here's the fucking game plan. It is designed to avoid any incling of tilt/spew etc. or even play at a level below 100% maximum focus. It's also designed to get me to start improving faster and learn more from sucking so badly.

Rules:
1. $25nl will be played for 2 hours each day MAX, a stopwatch will be used. Immediately after the alarm goes off, I must sit out next blind.
2. $25nl will be played on no more than 6 tables.
3. $25nl will NOT be played more than once during each day, ONLY ONE 2 hour session. Anything other poker MUST be played at 10nl or lower, regardless of how good the tables are, hot I'm running etc.
4. Minimum 3 hands from each 2 hour $25nl session WILL be posted in this blog. NO excuses.
5. ABSOLUTELY NO IRC/MSN Music/Windows open/Looking at PokerTracker Graph while playing 25nl. (It's okay at lower stakes for now but I'll have to find some way to kick the habit)
6. For every 2 hours of $25nl grinding you must study poker for 1 hour. If the study is not done, the play will not be attempted.
7. This list will be re-read before every session so I don't do something stupid like forget about it.

Well that's my list of rules. Let's hope I stick to them.

[x] wants to grind NOW

Just poppin' in one last time dude. I'm literally minutes from walking out the door and decided to see what was up. If you seriously stick to that schedule, you will rape 25nl, no question. Makes me sad lol. ;)

I'll see you in 3 months man, crush these fish for me while I'm gone ok?

WILL DO SIR!

Damn sucks to hear you hit such a negative turn. No worries though, what doesn't kill us (due to your extreme BR management) only makes us stronger. Funny how I didn't realize till a few weeks back that you and Dranger had such a large bankroll. Anyways, I hope your $25NL play has benefited from your rules. How was your first session with Spoon? Mine was last week and it helped cement basic principles down for me. Did you guys go over betting?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xpaand

Damn sucks to hear you hit such a negative turn. No worries though, what doesn't kill us (due to your extreme BR management) only makes us stronger. Funny how I didn't realize till a few weeks back that you and Dranger had such a large bankroll. Anyways, I hope your $25NL play has benefited from your rules. How was your first session with Spoon? Mine was last week and it helped cement basic principles down for me. Did you guys go over betting?

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I like to say my bankroll is similar to the size of my balls when speaking about # of buyins.

Session with Spoon was excellent. We went over betting principles which was a great first lesson. Hit me up on IRC if you ever want to discuss.

As for $25nl I began playing yesterday and was up a buyin but then had to quit due to something coming up IRL so I didn't really get any hands to post, but the session didn't even last 10 minutes :D

Playing a 2 hour one later tonight after I get some studying done.

Yeah I'll definitely hit you up on Sunday (that's my next free day). I never see you on mIRC though. LOL I still remember the first time I saw you on IRC, I didn't realize it was you cause your s/n was m2mcash or something. Dranger was like "duh.. what'd you think m2m stood for?" and I replied "mouth to mouth = cash?"

Anyways, let me know what your schedule's looking like for Sunday.

lol, I'll be around all day probably. I'm on the east coast so I think I'm a few hours ahead of you

Here is basically a squeeze gone wrong. I just 3bet the villain who opened on another table like immediately before this so I was planning on jamming over his 4bet, but that didn't happen and this guy in the middle ends up calling. Looking back I think this is a really terrible board to cbet and I probably should have tried checking it down and just look to get it in if an A or K fell.

PoPokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

CO ($14.35)
Button ($25)
SB ($17.95)
Hero (BB) ($25)
UTG ($9.20)
UTG+1 ($31.20)
MP1 ($4.90)
MP2 ($24.05)

Preflop: Hero is BB with Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif
5 folds, Button bets $1, SB calls $0.90, Hero raises to $4, 1 fold, SB calls $3

Flop: ($9) 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $5.50, SB raises to $13.95 (All-In), Hero folds

Total pot: $20 | Rake: $0.95

His line is just so weird..you know when donks 'put you on AK' exactly...well I think he may have done that and gotten me to fold the better hand, but I have no clue because I have no reads since I JUST sat down this hand. I don't get what he's repping really, though I suppose his range consists of at least some sort of pair. I guess he's jamming flush draws and overcards as well, but I dunno, anyone have experience in these spots? I would appreciate some feedback on this one, thx.

Also, I didn't get 3 hands to pick because I ended my session an hour early. I decided to implement a stop win for pyschological reason as every good start I've had to a session in the past at this stake has gone to complete shit right around the end to the point where I end up moving backwards quite a bit. As long as I maintain my focus I'll be unstuck in no time.

The cbet is kinda bad. But when we do it, we have to call. So betting like $6.50 might be a little better.

$20 in the pot, $8.45 to call, it's like 3.3:1, so as played we need like 23%ish. With a lot of draws out there, it should be a close call. The c-bet might be questionable, but we could argue that since worse hands call or push, it's for value. Suppose V just calls the flop and checks a blank turn, I think we bet again for value.

That said, a delayed cbet might be best here.

Thanks for the input, dev.

I think you're right about how after c-betting here folding is a mistake.

I wasn't really prepared to call his shove so I shouldn't have cbet :facepalm:.

How credible would you think betting any turn would be? Like do you think we'd get the same reaction as we did on the flop or do you think villain might tighten his range (or even loosen it) when it comes to shoving over.

As played, if V calls and checks turn, I think we can always bet. If it's a scare card we have some chance of taking him off of a 1 pair hand, if it's not then we're making him pay for draws. He can't have anything too potent if he plays it that passive on this board. If he does, we make a note and start searching for him at the beginning of our future sessions.

I have this idea that making a small error against a fish isn't too bad because we end up getting some of that money back by continuing to play against them. It's a minor concept online, because people get up and leave all the time without notice, but I started a thread about it a long time ago: here. Pretty much everyone but spoon misunderstood what I was talking about.

Interesting thread.

After looking over spoon's math in comparison to your theory it actually makes alot of sense, as long as we are sure we're going to be donated to I guess, as was the case in your home game.

If I'm not mistaken I think this is sort of what Doyle was getting at in Supersystem, about how he can afford to take slightly -EV all ins vs other players because he expects to get their money back one way or another by pwning them in every other pot. So if Doyle has a very large roll playing against a bunch of short rolled ATM visiting live fish who will sit out the night till they bust out, he basically just needs to keep getting into big pots with them and take lots of borderline flips etc (even ones that are slightly - EV), hence his very loose/aggressive get the chips in the middle style.

Guess I'll post May results in my blog too:

The bigger looking swings are 25nl, and theres some 5nl and 10nl squeezed in there for the most part as well:

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/6274/maygraph.png

Cash Games:............$300.70
SNGs:........................$ 72.50
DON SNGs:................$ 14.30
Heads up event:.......$160.00
Cash credits:.............$ 24.00
Total profit:..............$547.50

Overall I was pretty pleased with the results. Ran much better than I did in April, but I feel like I played much better as well. Taking a vacation really did help me get back on track.

As for my game I feel I've been improving much faster lately due to spending a higher % of my poker time on studying, as opposed to just playing.

I still ended up spewing a few buy-ins at 10nl, and also 25nl. (Sort of near end where graph kinda gets swiggly). Overall much better though.

Goldstar was unfortunately, not attained this month, but I felt it was in my best interest not to push for it.

However, this brings me to my June goals:

-Attain Goldstar
-Play 25nl more regularly
-Leave when you aren't feeling it. Total monthly spew for May was probably about $100, when it should have been $0.
-Keep up the study habits and don't get trapped in just grinding.

That's all folks

-m2m

Okay here's a hand from today's 25nl session: villain is unknown, but he has a dog avatar, a ?spanish? name, and he's repping his silver star....if any of that is relevant at all.

Alright I'm wondering what the best course of action is here to maximize value/not stack off etc.

I don't feel I can get 3 streets here very often but I was considering checking flop and betting turn and river(pending) but the flush draw encouraged me to bet. Is giving a free card on this flop OK and then delaying the cbet? I usually do it on dryer boards but I'm wondering what others have to say on this topic:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($15.80)
UTG ($25)
UTG+1 ($25)
MP1 ($26.60)
MP2 ($15)
MP3 ($25)
Hero (CO) ($36.20)
Button ($14.85)
SB ($20.50)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif
3 folds, MP2 (poster) checks, 1 fold, Hero bets $1, 2 folds, BB calls $0.75, 1 fold

Flop: ($2.35) 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.50, BB calls $1.50

Turn: ($5.35) 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $3.75, BB calls $3.75

River: ($12.85) 3http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif (2 players)
BB checks, Hero checks

Total pot: $12.85 | Rake: $0.60


Okay this is the SAME villain now, only he's 38/12 over 26 hands

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($14.20)
MP ($33.85)
CO ($13.40)
Button ($12.10)
Hero (SB) ($25.50)
BB ($26.85)

Preflop: Hero is SB with Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, CO calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero bets $1, 1 fold, UTG calls $0.75, 1 fold

Flop: ($2.50) Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
Hero bets $1.75, UTG calls $1.75

Turn: ($6) 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
Hero bets $3.25, UTG calls $3.25

River: ($12.50) 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif (2 players)
Hero???

I realize I should have raised bigger preflop, aside from that, where am I here :S. I guess my bet sizes are sort of smallish due to his stack size since I can get it in pretty easily with TPTK against his effective stack. I sort of felt I should bet smaller to get all his weak shit in his range to continue, though I guess I could just get it in earlier by betting bigger and things wouldn't change much?

Definitely be raising larger preflop and betting larger for value on the streets you do decide to bet. Guy is obviously a terrible station/passive player and will pay you with weak Ax hands as well as pay to chase his draws. Don't be scared of him, just bet bet bet for value.

When he hits , you'll know it and can fold until you get more reads on his post flop play. But honestly you should have stacked him already.

So I just fkin spewed 4 buyins in like an hour.

75% spew 25% wtf donk faggot.

I'm posting some guidelines above my desk regarding my sessions now and hopefully I'll start applying the things I learn.

POST THE SPEW HANDS!!!! I :heart: spew.

In the AQ hand I'd bet $6 on the river as played.

That said, I like a bigger pre-flop raise because we're out of position. CO really should have called you with pretty much his entire range. because it's only 3bbs and he has position.
$2 pre
$3.5 flop.
$10 turn
Shove river.

After a single limper, I like to isolate for 5bbs. You want to play a big pot.

Okay this one is just bad.

I was on sort of passive/omg let me win a pot/wtf are u doing 3betting me/i dont wanna 4bet and get it in pre so ill just call oop....

Basically a bad mindset. Played this hand like shit:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (9 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

UTG ($9.65)
Hero (UTG+1) ($29)
MP1 ($32.30)
MP2 ($22.95)
MP3 ($25.60)
CO ($26.70)
Button ($25.40)
SB ($46.10)
BB ($53.55)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif
1 fold, Hero bets $1, 2 folds, MP3 raises to $3.25, 4 folds, Hero calls $2.25

Flop: ($6.85) 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/spade.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 bets $4, Hero calls $4

Turn: ($14.85) 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
Hero checks, MP3 checks

River: ($14.85) 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
Hero bets $7, MP3 raises to $16.25, Hero folds

Total pot: $28.85 | Rake: $1.40

WTF is with his check on the turn tho??

BTW this guy is unknown, though I noticed him join a couple other tables as I was leaving if thats relevant at all (i.e. multitabling/tightish?)

I was thinking about check raising the flop..but then I couldn't see any worse aces calling me :/

River bluff is just lol lol lol lol spew

Epiphany:

I'm betting too small on early streets which leads to having to bet too big on later streets.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

WTF is with his check on the turn tho??

BTW this guy is unknown, though I noticed him join a couple other tables as I was leaving if thats relevant at all (i.e. multitabling/tightish?)

I was thinking about check raising the flop..but then I couldn't see any worse aces calling me :/

River bluff is just lol lol lol lol spew

---

:kc: :kh:

Throw in :qc: :qh: until the river action.

This should be a really easy hand read.

Th pre-flop call is pretty bad though...

Yeah I usually have the discipline to get away from this early and not try and buy the pot later when its obvious I'm beat.

Gonna have to start being more serious about closing the windows when I'm having a rough night

Had a sweat session with 100-200nl ring player the other day. Managed to identify some leaks to work on.

Been doing quite a bit of studying and thinking away from the tables, especially about my general tendencies, the cause of them, and what can be done to improve them.

Most importantly, I feel like my thought process has clicked a bit. It's not that I'm thinking deeply or anything, I'm just thinking more logically and seem to be indentifying more profitable spots to steal, not cbet, call, raise, etc. than before.

Looking at this operation it seems to be pretty results oriented, with my bankroll management chart and my plan to make new threads for different categories of stakes. What it really comes down to though is an exciting journey of learning about poker - essentially - this is the root of it all.

Of course many of our dreams and ambitions that are poker related involve some quantitative measure, such as an earnings goal of winning 'x' amount of money, or a volume based goal such as achieving SNE. I think the most rewarding part of achieving such goals is enjoying everything inbetween the start and finish. I guess I'm still along way from where I want to be, but that's not a big deal, because I'm enjoying the ride.

Something I learned today:

Just because you have a very strong hand on a safe looking board does not provide an excuse to think on zeroth level and be inconsiderate of villains range. How to maximize value and minimize loss, essentially, will be figured out after considering villains range. Without considering that range, you're just mashing buttons - even if you have a very strong hand that you plan to commit your stack with.

I approve of your random poker thoughts blogging. Keep it up man.

Good to see you enjoy reading.

So this month I'm working towards achieving GoldStar. If I do not I will probably just stop playing.

I have 533/3000 VPP's so I'm off to a good start pace wise, I also haven't really played that much. Next week I'll probably be playing more I imagine.

Bankroll is healthy (~)$1500. Probably gonna play some HU 50nl when I roll past the $2k mark and then re-eval how well my game has come along and decide whether to move up or not.

Not much to update really. Roll is still at a bit of a standstill but I'm not worried about that much.

VPP's towards GoldStar: 704/3000 (recorded before today's session)

Confession:

I'm stuck 4 buyins over 20k hands at 25nl.

I have played poorly. I take things too far with marginal hands. I override pot control when I shouldn't. My favourite line is 'lol pot odds call'. I don't 3bet enough. I try too hard to get hands like QQ all in preflop vs nits. I don't look for good spots to steal, I just somehow expect them to pop out at me. I also overestimate or underestimate ranges due to being emotionally attached to pots. For example: 'But I have a set/pair/flush (etc) he should be bluffing some of the time...'

But the good news is, all this is going to change, starting now.

I've deleted the thing in PokerTracker which shows my winnings. All I can see are my stats - all I can see are things I need to work on.

I've let my game slip. Too many curiosity calls, too many unplanned hands. It's time to start playing my best, and make well informed objective decisions.

To help make such decisions, I'm going to be studying alot away from the table. Things are actually clicking, but whenever I sit down to play I seem to forget what I'm doing. I won't settle for that anymore, I'm going to prepare myself to play solid poker, and I'm not going to let anything get in my way.

This operation is destined to get back on pace, and I'm going to do my best to make it happen.

Good luck :D

Good stuff. You have a good list of leaks there, might want to tackle them one at a time rather than just focusing on 'playing well'. Let us know what works for you.

Play well, GL, etc.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dev

Good stuff. You have a good list of leaks there, might want to tackle them one at a time rather than just focusing on 'playing well'. Let us know what works for you.

Play well, GL, etc.

---

Hmmm good point.

I think one of the biggest ones, calling on the river too often, is hurting my win rate significantly. My WTSD is just too high. I'm going to have to focus more on who is betting into me and what exactly their bet means.

For example, if I'm up against a very passive player who almost never bets at all, and then they lead into me on the river, I need to seriously think more about their range and try my best not to weight the range as bluffy when it really isn't. I've found that even if I take a 'weak' line such as checking back the turn, they're usually just checking air on the river back over to me. So when these timid players bet, they usually aren't bluffing :/

I guess I don't have as difficult of a time picking off bluffs from more aggressive players, since I tend to call too much. But when credit is due, I need to start giving it.

Thanks for the comments.

Sweet, back to back winning sessions at 25nl.

VPP's to GoldStar: 924/3000 - - - On pace!

Another win booked.

VPP's to GoldStar: 1,015

Here's a hand from tonights session, guy seemed like a bit of a donk:

Should we be raising here on flop? I didn't feel like it would be for value, other than against a draw. He's some random who just sat in. Saw him call QJo from an UTG raiser, thats it. I don't have a read on his overbet here:

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.25 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP2 ($25)
Hero (CO) ($35.80)
Button ($23.30)
SB ($25.10)
BB ($26.70)
UTG ($14.25)
UTG+1 ($43.35)
MP1 ($12.80)

Preflop: Hero is CO with Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif
UTG calls $0.25, 1 fold, MP1 calls $0.25, 1 fold, Hero bets $1.50, 4 folds, MP1 calls $1.25

Flop: ($3.60) Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif, 2http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
MP1 bets $1, Hero calls $1

Turn: ($5.60) Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (2 players)
MP1 bets $10.30 (All-In), Hero...

Well played, now call.

One card beats us and he's betting as if he's either bluffing or scared to get drawn out on. If he's doing this with a Kc I just hope he doesn't sit out next hand.

I'd call.

wtf cold call 3bet then raise flop...is this pretty much always a set?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (8 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

BB ($16.20)
UTG ($10.90)
UTG+1 ($22.55)
MP1 ($1.35)
Hero (MP2) ($10.35)
CO ($9.85)
Button ($10)
SB ($15.15)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif
2 folds, MP1 bets $0.30, Hero raises to $0.90, CO calls $0.90, 3 folds, MP1 calls $0.60

Flop: ($2.85) 4http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...iles/heart.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...es/diamond.gif, Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...miles/club.gif (3 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $1.60, CO raises to $3.60, 1 fold, Hero?

$0.05/$0.1 No Limit Holdem
9 players
Converted at weaktight.com

Stacks:
UTG orestbeaver ($1.60)
UTG+1 Hero ($14.05)
MP1 Strepped ($2.45)
MP2 SCovermind ($10.25)
MP3 LuckyOlli70 ($12.30)
CO dokiel ($10.25)
BTN potobetis ($12.35)
SB fx6893 ($22.60)
BB KirillPoykin ($2.00)

Pre-flop: ($0.15, 9 players) Hero is UTG+1 :ah: :as:
1 fold, Hero raises to $0.40, 3 folds, dokiel calls $0.40, 3 folds

Flop: :ac: :td: :8s: ($0.95, 2 players)
Hero bets $0.60, dokiel calls $0.60

Turn: :jd: ($2.15, 2 players)
Hero bets $1.30, dokiel raises to $3, Hero goes all-in $13.05, dokiel goes all-in $6.25

River: :jc: ($24.45, 2 players)
Hero says "wow....", Hero says "lolll."

Final Pot: $20.65
dokiel shows: :jh: :js:
Hero shows: :ah: :as:

dokiel wins $19.65 ( won +$9.40 )
Hero wins $3.80 ( lost -$10.25 )



I played 3 hands with this player. First hand he raised my turn bet so I folded. 2nd hand he raised my turn bet I stuck it in and go 1 outered. Then the 3rd time he raises me, its on a really wet flop, I ship my overpair and get snapcalled by the nuts.

1. I suck at poker
2. Running this bad doesn't help when I suck

I could post more hands like this but I don't really want to turn the entire thread into a bitch fest. I guess I just need to vent somewhere as I'm getting tons of hands in, studying my ass off, but just not seeing any results.

Alright I guess I'll take a break on Sunday and just review hands/study.

No playing at all.

Run bad in cash, run hot in donkament.

Placed 2nd in a $4.40 regular 180 for $140ish

Words of wisdom:

It's pretty obvious tight, weak, regulars aren't bluff raising you very often postflop, if ever.

Today's first session was very poorly played, though my second session went better. I felt as though I handled marginal situations with more discipline (folded).

Tomorrow is going to be a spew free day.

Good luck m2m, I'm always here if you need a rail to lean on.

hey man, just stopping in to say that I read the last two pages of this blog (since the last time I was here), and that I'm happy that you're steadily moving up and making money. You should be proud of doing what so many others have failed at doing.

I mean you're now playing 25NL where before you started at 2NL, do you realize how big a difference that is? I only see you moving up for now man. Good luck and hopefully see you later.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DaD01ng

hey man, just stopping in to say that I read the last two pages of this blog (since the last time I was here), and that I'm happy that you're steadily moving up and making money. You should be proud of doing what so many others have failed at doing.

I mean you're now playing 25NL where before you started at 2NL, do you realize how big a difference that is? I only see you moving up for now man. Good luck and hopefully see you later.

---

Thanks man.

Now that you mention this I think I take where I am for granted sometimes :/ Looking back I realize I've come really far. It wasn't too long ago that I'd get upset over losing $2 because of a stupid mistake!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lucothefish

Good luck m2m, I'm always here if you need a rail to lean on.

---

Thanks Luco

You got teamviewer? You can rail me sweat session style so you can see my cards and discuss things.

1688/3000 VPP's = on pace for GoldStar

Roll is ~ $1,650

Probably won't start playing 50nl till July though as I need to get more hands at 25nl in.

lol what's teamviewer

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lucothefish

lol what's teamviewer

---

something like mikogo

basically it's a way so that you can see eachother computer screens live so you guys can rail eachother but also see eachother's hands etc

So I played some 50nl HU last night.

Down about $5 overall...I stacked off marginally vs a drooler and he had me outkicked but I felt I was ahead of his range given the action. I ended up making it back in another match.

Not sure if it's the greatest Idea, but I guess I'm close to where I could be 'taking shots' so meh :/

Why wouldn't you play $50NL full ring? You have more than 30 buy-ins for the bankroll. Playing heads-up $50NL up is actually harder and more variance than full ring.

Variance is killer HU. Most regular HU players use a 50BI roll, pros usually use 100+. If you're going to take shots, I'd suggest FR as Jason said.

Yeah, I was just searching out weak players really, but I don't plan on playing HU regularly untill my roll is 2-2.5k+

With that said I'll probably just hold off on fish hunting there again for awhile and grind 25nl for a bit longer + do my sng thing.

Okay roll is $2.2k now.

2nd in another donkament this week for a $533 cash.

Man I am hot in these things! 3 FT's this week :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

Okay roll is $2.2k now.

2nd in another donkament this week for a $533 cash.

Man I am hot in these things! 3 FT's this week :D

---

'grats man.

Dranger is gonna shit when he gets back and see all this.

Wow, a 32% bankroll boost in one payout. That's probably a nice feeling. Bankroll management says you may drop down a level or quit playing for the day if you lose so much, but it doesn't say anything about how much you can win :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micro2Macro

Okay roll is $2.2k now.

2nd in another donkament this week for a $533 cash.

Man I am hot in these things! 3 FT's this week :D

---

I come back from AC to see that you are a complete animal. Congrats bro.

Yo thanks for dropping by people.

So I had a pretty good session of 25nl today. I played pretty well and ran well too.

I'm going out to a home game tonight ($20 buyin) so that should be fun and easy :P

1901/3000 VPP's towards GoldStar - this shit is happenin'

Update:

Things are going well at 25nl. I seem to have caught a grip and found my fold button. Studying has definately helped, as I seem to pick up on new small edges every day. Coaching from spoonitnow has be extrememly beneficial to constructing my game, and pretty much invaluable. Oh yeah, running good also helps.

The #'s
619 VPP's left to collect for GoldStar.
My goal is to get that done before Saturday, so I can participate in the GoldStar+ $100k tournament.
Bankroll is ~ $2,350 as of this update.
I've played 500 hands at 50nl so far, and that went well for +1 buyin.

The Next Step (Small Stakes)
I'll be starting Part II of my Operation in a new thread at the beginning of July. The focus of the thread will be my experience at the Small Stakes games ($50nl and $100nl), and of course I like to play sng's and donkaments on the side, so I'll mention some things regarding those. My main focus going in will be emotional control, though I'm always working to improve the technical aspects of my game of course.

Will update by the end of the month at the latest.

So now you got me all into donkaments. Thanks a lot.

I say we incorporate a break from cash games one day out of the week. We'll have a donkament day weekly. Maybe it'll catch on and spread throughout IRC/FTR (I can see Illfavor taking part in some of them with us...as well as Dranger when he gets his ass back). I was looking and the $2.75 at 5pm (though I'm sure you have work at this time) and the $2.20 at 11pm are SWEET. We can do those in addition to the $4.40 tourneys. Just a thought to break up the monotony that is grinding.

I have a donkament day, and that day is Sunday.

You dig?

Sunday afternoons aren't good though because I'm usually out visiting family/friends but I start up the grind at like 8-9pm.