Learn and enjoy playing poker

Firstly I haven't really played poker or been on this forum for years, but recently I have decided to delve back into playing so I thought I would create a blog to keep track and hopefully get some advise from you guys. I used to play recreationally years ago at $2NL 9Max without ever making it up to the dizzy heights of $5NL.

So I have deposited $50 on Full Tilt Poker Account and I am going to start where I left off - $2NL 9Max. I am going to only play 1 table to concentrate more on my game and note taking to begin with. I will be updating this blog with my progress and goals and I will start being active in the beginners circle when I have time.

I do work full time, normally 60 hour weeks so I won't be able to play as much as I would want. However it is important for me to enjoy the game again as I will be spending a lot of my "spare" time playing.

Any questions let me know.

I have just finished my first session of 57 hands and made £3.51 profit which is a good start :)

I took notes all the way through which was my goal - every player who joined the table received a note even it was as basic as buyin and if they had auto-top up enabled.

The table had a couple of bad players at the start but then after they busted became full of "solid" players so I decided to quit.

Below are the two hands I won big on.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://flopturnriver.com/

MP2 ($1.98)
CO ($1.03)
Button ($2)
Hero (SB) ($2.30)
BB ($2)
UTG ($1.50)
UTG+1 ($2)
MP1 ($1.95)

Preflop: Hero is SB with 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/heart.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/spade.gif
4 folds, CO calls $0.02, Button raises to $0.10, Hero raises to $0.38, 1 fold, CO calls $0.36, Button calls $0.28

Flop: ($1.16) 6http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif, 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/heart.gif, 8http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/heart.gif (3 players)
Hero bets $0.95, CO calls $0.65 (All-In), 1 fold

Turn: ($2.46) Ahttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/spade.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

River: ($2.46) Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $2.46 | Rake: $0.09

Results below:

Spoiler: Show

Hero had 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/heart.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/spade.gif (one pair, tens).
CO had 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif, 5http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...es/diamond.gif (one pair, fives).
Outcome: Hero won $2.37

In this hand CO was a fish who brought in for 100bb but posted in MP1 and min-raised UTG p/f but got folded around. BUT seemed solid and I thought he was trying to isolate the fish.

Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) - Full Tilt Converter Tool from http://flopturnriver.com/

UTG ($1.95)
UTG+1 ($1.78)
MP1 ($1.75)
Hero (MP2) ($4)
CO ($2.52)
Button ($2.02)
SB ($1.55)
BB ($2.05)

Preflop: Hero is MP2 with 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...es/diamond.gif, Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif
3 folds, Hero raises to $0.08, CO calls $0.08, 1 fold, SB calls $0.07, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.26) 9http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...es/diamond.gif, Khttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/spade.gif, 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif (3 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $0.18, 1 fold, SB calls $0.18

Turn: ($0.62) Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/heart.gif (2 players)
SB bets $0.60, Hero raises to $3.74 (All-In), SB calls $0.69 (All-In)

River: ($3.20) 7http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...es/diamond.gif (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $3.20 | Rake: $0.11

Results below:

Spoiler: Show

SB had Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif, Jhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...lies/spade.gif (three of a kind, Jacks).
Hero had 10http://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...es/diamond.gif, Qhttp://www.flopturnriver.com/pokerfo...ilies/club.gif (straight, King high).
Outcome: Hero won $3.09

In this hand the table was tighter so I was looking to steal the blinds - the villain only came to the table 1 hand earlier. Other notes on these guys other than playing tight was that CO raised BB when he was on the BUT, BB 3 bet folded.
I have CO marked as tight solid and the BB as a reg and the BUT as tight solid - so I wasn't worried about being 3 bet bluffed would as laid down p/f to a 3 bet.

I've just finished playing my 2nd session of 113 hands and I made a profit of $1.85 - I am not going to post every session don't worry! For the first 1000 hands I am just going to concentrate of making notes then I will starting looking into the basic mathematical side with studying alongside playing. I am going to post some hands in the beginners circle where I am not sure if I was too passive post-flop if anyone wants to take a look.

Right I just played a quick session of 25 hands and donked off $1.88 because I was tired and shouldn't of been playing. I did realise this and stopped and didn't waste my whole BR on tilt which is a positive! But I effectively burnt a buyin and I am pretty pissed off with it.

Below are my results so far:

Date Hands Profit/Loss Start BR End BR
29.01.17 57 $3.51 $50.00 $53.51
29.01.17 113 $1.85 $53.51 $55.36
30.01.17 95 $1.76 $55.36 $57.12
31.01.17 25 ($1.88) $57.12 $55.24

MadMojoMonkey replied to some hands in the beginners circle which was good of him - the forum seems pretty dead so I was concerned that no-one would be replying to anything! He also pointed out that my note taking is ridiculously long winded and I should develop a shorthand which is going to be my next step before I play another session.

Good luck man!

The hands you posted look good so far. QT hand is prob fine to check back on flop with some reasonable frequency.