January Results - February Goals

I know I made a review post earlier, but I hadn't really looked at the date and have got some play in since then, I won't bother with any lengthy review but here is my month in numbers:

Cash:

Tournaments:

Bonuses:
$10 Stellar

Overall:
+$191.85


Looking forward to February here are the goals!

1. 30k hands
2. 4pt3bb/100
3. 8 Homegame cashes
4. Top 5 Homegame league
5. Finish "Treat Your Poker Like a Business"
6. Don't miss more than 4 hours of lectures

I shouldn't be heading off skiing this month so I will have no excuses for not making them!

Pokerstars VIP/Rake Changes

I should start this by saying that I am a big fan of Pokerstars and the way they have handled themselves since Black Friday, however, at the tail end of last year I was very disappointed in the way they approached changing the VIP and rake system, severely affecting the plans of many of their high volume customers.  Issues such as the shift to weighted contribution rake system (WC) would take money out of the poker economy overall as the distribution of VPPs would be weighted to the lower VIP players, who being able to get less for their VPPs in the store resulted in money leaving the poker economy and into Pokerstars' pocket.  Additionally changes to the rake system meant an increase at some stakes that led to more money leaving the poker economy and going to Pokerstars.  In addition to these there were the perennial issues of some games just having too high a rake system to beat, such as micro stakes (relevant to me and to many others) as well as limit and CAP games.

The main point of contention in the high volume player base was not so much the transfers of VPPs to the recreational players but the fact that money was leaving the overall poker economy.  PS came back with an offer to host a number of representatives from the poker community and I believe to them we owe a great deal:

• xPeru
• Klairic
• Krmont22
• Hood
• Chisness

Here is a quick summary of what they managed to achieve through dialogue with Stars:

1.  2% rake reduction, resulting in a gain for the players and a net loss for Pokerstars.  Every microstakes level has seen a reduction in rake allowing newer players to hold onto their money longer and have time to develop a greater interest in the game and to hopefully bring more money into the economy over time
2. Increase in rake at the high stakes games that have comparatively paid a very low rate of rake, despite having high costs associated with them, including things like policing them, finding collusion etc.
3. Changes to the SN/SNE retention program and one off changes for 2012/2013, more of which can be found browsing the 2p2 SN and SNE threads.
4. New stakes will be introduced into the micro stakes, 3/6c and 8/16c with the possibility of 15/30c being introduced if this is a success.  I am hugely excited about this personally as it allows a more gentle progress up the stakes and will in theory ease the transition and help players move up and feel they are progressing more, turning them into regular players.
5. Regular discussion with players, this process will happen twice a year now to ensure that any changes are discussed and explained to the community to allow for a dialogue between the players and Pokerstars.

There are more points that have been discussed and other features but these I feel cover the main points that affect most players.  I think this sets a great precedent for future action and both Pokerstars and our representatives did a great job in discussing and developing new ideas to move forwards!

January Review

Hey guys, as it turns out I'm taking some time off from university and am back skiing in France!  As far as completing my goals for January:

1. 20k hands [x]
2. Win at 4bb/100 [ ]
3. Finish reading Treat Your Poker Like a Business [ ]
4. Nail my university exams - not had all results but maintaining the 2:1 standard I set myself
5. 5 cashes in my homegames tournaments - Considering I lost out on the last 10 days of the month I didn't manage this, but I got in 3 or 4 and was well on track to complete this so - [x]

Cash started off really well and I moved up to 10nl, I'm comfortable rolled for this but I need to improve my game as I encountered a bit of a downswing combined with bad play that actually saw me down for the month.  My volume on the other hand was good and I made my target number of hands despite only having a week and half to play, losing the rest of the month to skiing and exams.

I didn't get around to finishing the book but I got a big chunk of the reading done and hope to now finish it in February when I will definitely be in the country for the entire time!  I recommend this book hugely to people wanting to focus and improve their play, regardless of aspirations to become professional or to be an enthusiastic amateur like me!

My exams went well, one always feels more could have been done in preparation but I am maintaining the grade I want and I'm looking to push it further and get my marks up more.

Although I didn't mange 5 due to time constraints I did have a good month in mtts and sngs which countered my small loss on the cash tables,  Hopefully next month I can combine the two and have a good month overall!

I'll think about my February goals when I'm back in England but right now I'm going to enjoy my last few days here in France and keep looking for places like this!

Back in the UK - 2012/January Goals

Firstly, am back in the UK!  I had an amazing 3 weeks skiing, great times seeing old friends and making new ones.  I'll be very honest and admit that I slacked big time with regards to photos and videos so I can't put anything up here really but it was brilliant.  So brilliant in fact that after my exams finish on Wednesday I'm trying to head back out for another 10 days, the conditions are so good I haven't seen anything like it in my lifetime, the snow is really piling up and this isn't a season to be sitting in lecture halls!

Onto poker, this is copied out of my 2p2 PGC thread:

After a pretty dire year online coupled with a really good year live I'm back to set this years goals and challenges for myself. Going to keep it simple, there's enough about me and what I do in old PGC thread and others around here, happy to answer anything if anyone is interested though.

2012 Yearly Goals and Challenges:

1. Only play 6max NLHE cash games, my daily homegame tournaments, special promotion tournaments and anything I qualify for with fpps
2. 300000 hands of 6max cash
3. See a significant improvement in my play through studying videos and through coaching
4. Have a +ROI in my homegame tournaments
5. Become a respected poster in uNL in 2012 after moving from uNLfr where I made little contribution
6. Maintain my 2:1 at university and push for a 1st class degree

I've had real problems with game selection over the years and have wasted a lot of money on stupid tournaments, playing higher stakes game equivalent to my live play so the 1st goal is very important to me.

In addition to what I want to accomplish over the year I have a plan of monthly goals I want to achieve.

January Goals:

1. 20k hands
2. Win at 4bb/100 (whatever the one PT3 give me says)
3. Finish reading "Treat Your Poker Like a Business"
4. Nail my university exams!
5. 5 Cashes in my homegame tournaments

All the best to everyone in 2012
Jake"

So as you can see I'm going to be tougher on myself this year, less partying, more work, especially as I want to get more time on the slopes, the time I'm in England for needs to be productive!