Refocus

At times in our lives we lose focus and try too hard to achieve our goals.  In my rush to build my bankroll and move up both my skill level and stake I've been trying to do too much and therefore have been losing money.  To remedy this I've cut my number of tables I play to 4 and am making a concerted effort to improve my game.  Instead of reading "Treat Your Poker Like a Business" I've gone back to watching poker videos from Leggo Poker and rebuilding my game, going back to basics and not trying anything too fancy, I'm just gonna build my roll and work on my fundamentals.  I don't think I need to be getting too creative at these stakes and I've been trying too hard to win every pot and play a style that I think is good, but in reality, my skill level cannot back up.

So with the cut down of tables and change of studying I guess I should reevaluate my goals.  My goal for the number of hands is being cut from 30k to 25k and I want to finish the video series I am watching now by the end of the month instead of getting the book read.

When you're down, you gotta get back up!

Bit over dramatic for poker, but this was how I felt with competitive sport and that went ok, now I need to apply myself to poker just as hard!

Moving on..... down?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this month has been somewhat disappointing on the cash tables.  There are of course elements of bad play, everyone in the micros is making mistakes and trying to learn from them!  However, when combined with a period where you aren't running so well your bankroll can take a bit of a hit.  While I'm still rolled very comfortably for 16NL I am considering moving down to rebuild my confidence a bit and really plug any leaks I find.  I know that you shouldn't be concerned with your ev line too much, they aren't the only measure of how you're running, to illustrate the point, here are a few hands today that were just really frustrating with how the board ran out:

1) PokerStars - $0.16 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Hero (SB): $18.85
BB: $16.24
UTG: $18.08
MP: $18.11
CO: $18.49
BTN: $19.84

Hero posts SB $0.08, BB posts BB $0.16

Pre Flop: ($0.24) Hero has 9s 9d

fold, fold, fold, fold, Hero raises to $0.64, BB calls $0.48

Flop: ($1.28, 2 players) 2s Jd 9c
Hero bets $0.93, BB raises to $2.40, Hero calls $1.47

Turn: ($6.08, 2 players) Jh
Hero bets $4.20, BB calls $4.20

River: ($14.48, 2 players) 2h (The worst card in the deck)

2) PokerStars - $0.16 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

SB: $16.08
BB: $45.01
Hero (UTG): $16.00
CO: $9.98
BTN: $17.95

SB posts SB $0.08, BB posts BB $0.16

Pre Flop: ($0.24) Hero has Jc Jh

Hero raises to $0.48, fold, fold, fold, BB calls $0.32

Flop: ($1.04, 2 players) 8c Tc 5d
BB bets $0.49, Hero calls $0.49

Turn: ($2.02, 2 players) 6h
BB bets $0.96, Hero calls $0.96

River: ($3.94, 2 players) 4d
BB bets $1.88, Hero calls $1.88

BB shows 7d Td (Straight, Eight High) (Pre 19%, Flop 24%, Turn 30%)
Hero mucks Jc Jh (One Pair, Jacks) (Pre 81%, Flop 76%, Turn 70%)
BB wins $7.35

3) PokerStars - $0.16 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 6 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 3: http://www.pokertracker.com

Hero (SB): $17.43
BB: $13.18
UTG: $12.24
MP: $18.47
CO: $16.00
BTN: $16.36

Hero posts SB $0.08, BB posts BB $0.16

Pre Flop: ($0.24) Hero has Qc Kh

fold, fold, fold, BTN raises to $0.40, Hero raises to $1.55, BB calls $1.39, fold

Flop: ($3.50, 2 players) Kd Qs Tc
Hero bets $2.20, BB calls $2.20

Turn: ($7.90, 2 players) Jc (sigh)
Hero checks, BB bets $5.21, fold

BB wins $7.54

Coupling this with running over $100 below ev and I''m just having a shocker, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to pull this one back!  Still, better keep on practicing and studying, I'll get there eventually.

February So Far

Well, it has been a turbulent month so far for me on the tables!  I'm down a fair chunk in cash games and up a little in mtts and sngs so I need to rally in the second half of the month if I want to have a year with no losing months.  I need to up my volume in the second half of the month and this shuold help me grind my way out of the hole I'm in at the moment.  One thing I have considered is playing 5 cash tables and 1 tournament all the time, just to get some more tournament experience but I might put that on hold until later in the year, although I really need to up my cashes in the homegame I'm in if I want to make my goals there as well.

I just turned 22 yesterday, the same day as one of my good friends turned 21 and we had a big party with a lot of our friends coming out for a fantastic night, a fair few hangovers about this morning, along with some embarrassing photos that I expect to surface once people are capable of using their cameras/phones this afternoon.  I really needed a night out like last night as it hasn't been a great month so far on the tables and am unfortunately having some problems off the tables as well of a more personal nature.  Hopefully I'll be able to get some photos up from last night when the appear on facebook.

So, roughly half way through the month and time to shape up really!  I've already missed far too many hours of lectures this term but my modules just aren't interesting me as much as they were last term, the work itself is ok and the tutorials are bringing up some good discussion but the actual lectures I feel are below par this term.  In addition to my university studies I've started studying some economics and finance stuff in my free time, I've picked up a few books recommended on 2p2 and hope to have them read by the end of my long summer break, I don't have much time for them now but I'm excited to get into them.

World Blogger Championship of Online Poker

As I’m sure many of you are aware the World Blogger Championship of Online Poker is fast approaching on Pokerstars and I intend on competing and hopefully winning some money!  The 31 event schedule is kicking off on the 23^rd of February and is running until March 4^th when the $5000 Main Event closes the series.  The best blogger of 2012 will win $5000 and we’re asked to write about what we would do if we were to win so here are my plans!

1. I would of course continue to play poker, at my current stakes but this would give me the chance to play more tournaments online at Pokerstars as my current bankroll is pretty important for my progression in cash games!
2. I love blogging and writing about poker, I would use some of the money to enrol in a creative writing class at my university on the side as this is something I’ve had zero training in (as you can probably tell) and it would give me a chance to improve my writing style.  This is something I’d love to keep doing for a long time in the future so investment now might be a good idea.
3. I would have to use some of the money to take my better half out for a meal and a show in London to say thank you for putting up with me for so long, need to keep her on my side!
4. I currently play on a 15” laptop so some of the money would go towards either a new external monitor or perhaps a new desktop to let me have a nicer environment to play poker in, especially given the time I give to the game, it would make it easier to play longer sessions and more tables.
5. Finally I would have to take a fair few of my friends out for a night to say thank you for putting up with me when I have to miss occasional nights out due to poker!

The WBCOOP is a great chance for many aspiring poker bloggers to get their name out there and win some great money at the same time, not to mention take part in a prestigious online poker tournament series that you can make your name in as a player, not just a blogger!  Previous winners such as Pokerstars Team Online player Daleroxxu have gone on to do great things, maybe you could be the next one in line. 

There are a huge range of events including all of your favourite games in various formats so there is no excuse not to get involved and get the competitive juices flowing, every tournament offers SCOOP tickets and everyone who cashes can get into the $5000 main event where serious money is up for grabs.  For those who really do well and cash in multiple events there is the WBCOOP leaderboard that is offering even more in prizes!

All the best to my fellow poker bloggers, see you on the tables!

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!