UGH it's been awhile...

I can't believe it has almost been a month since my last update. Crazy times at my household. Last Wednesday our foster daughter went through her skull surgery. She is doing great, recovering at home finally and making good progress. He appearance is clearly changed and she'll look pretty normal now.

Poker has been quite a ride, 2 final tables in one night last week, now I am on the verge of a major downswing as I have taken some horrendous, beyond all reality beats in the last few days. I have been deep several times and even was in the top 10 of the 70k and 28k with ~300 to go in both only to exit just under 100. When I cannot get AQ to hold against a button shove even after flopping top 2...I know that I am not running well.

I wrapped up some mini ftops games for a stock on PBT and it was brutal. I guess I don't know how people can be so bad and get rewarded, but keep calling with 67 offsuit on my 3x raises and I am sure eventually FTP will reward me.

Keep on grinding....it will turn.

Paul

Refreshed for tonight

Well last night I was in bed at 9:00- so I will come back tonight with a rested mind and ready to play. Snuck in a few FTP guarantees this morning at work and cashed the 12.5KOwith a few knock outs only to go out against a straight frush.

The last week has been frustrating as I have gone deep a lot but only smaller FTs to show for it. I have been knocked out of the NHG several times with HUGE odds for me the last 4 times and out of the last 4 I have had the chip lead in the tourney twice. Flopping sets and having a set turned and river 6 outers are brutal. One win of my bust hands and I am insanely large deep in that tourney.

The newest coversation is about a NHG team BAP with myself, papawood, ridgewarrior Am8king and ??? - the fifth player is the one we are trying to nail down...arobinson11, xmachine888, Greeson08, ?. Details will be laid out soon. Lets just say that it will be a solid group and will be totally +EV IMO.

Playing a full schedule tonight and plan to take something down. Hopefully the next entry is about owning a guarantee.

Another night so close

Well, another night another final table, but this time a 9th in DDA. So frustrating to get there and immediately run 55 into KK short stacked. I played great, the cards held and I'll be at another FT soon.

In the 70K, I finished 51st after QQ is cracked by A10. Nothing quite like a dream crusher when you get shoved in the SB with monster.

The 50/50 had a sad ending mid way through the $. AK 2.75x lead by me and a monkey shove with AJ only to flop a J.

Profit last night was ~$400 and could have been huge with a few things going my way.

August, a month to remember (I Hope)

Well I am a few days into my newest of heebs after a vacation and a prior BAP that was dismal. I guess I am holding onto the run good that is due me especially on FTP, which I am about ready to abandon. No one of any decent stature in HE can take the beats I take there and keep going. Last night another 3 outer- and the beats are sick, not just losing races.

So last night was a FT of the 16.50. Sad ending as one of the opponents crippled me with a gut buster draw to my open ended flush draw. The play and calls are so bad sometimes I just can't fathom how people are so bad, but get rewarded. I took 3rd in the $16.50 for a small reward.

I have had several deep runs in the last few weeks including a FT for the $15k($33 entry) and a few FT bubbles. I tweaked a few things and now I am ready to explode. Lets hope it is an a big one- or a few big ones!!

My game is sharp, my play is TAG and I know I can play with about anyone in any buy in size. It's time to own and get rewarded!!

A final table?? WAT??

Ah, the poker Gods speak to me and get me to a final table, but I manage to take a huge stack down to half and dwindle to a short stack before going out 7th in the 70K last night. I made a few mistakes, but also made more great calls. I have been deep and to FTs a lot lately and I think that I am due another big run.

My BAP didn't cover my action last night due to BR guidelines, but I think I am putting abut $1K towards the BR and also closing out a grind for another one night BAP I had up.

The baby we took on has turned out to have serious stomach problems and won't sleep. Life has been rough, last night helped ease the chaos.

Coming back on track?!!?

The last few nights have shown me that my game is coming back around. Deep in the 50/50 one mistake calling off 99 late to Aj and losing the race wasn't my brightest moment, but I bounced back in the $26- $12.5KO on tilt for 5th. I have been consistent and the cards are coming.

My grind to pay off some cake is coming along, I am crushing $4.40 - 180s...HA!! I am a 111% ROI through 408 total games and 232% this month. I could be the next xmachine888!! I should be done grinding those this week, but will keep them as fillers due to my successes.

Our new baby has some stomach issues and he sleeps little to none, so neither do my wife or I. He seems to like laying on my chest and watching me play, maybe he's my good luck charm.

Gl on the tables.

It has been awhile since I have posted and really not much has changed on any fronts with the exception of one major family addition. We had a foster preemie delivered to us about 3 weeks ago. Little sleep and lots of chaos in that regard.

As for poker, I have played as well I have ever and have not shown the results of my solid play. I have been taken out repeatedly with dominant hands, stronger races hands and am ankle grabbing like it is m job. It is completely frustrating to run so good and get donked so often. And how is it every shove runs into AA or KK? It has become frustrating.

I will play on though.

Swimming Upstream

Well, I have clearly been running much better, but even though I am getting deep, I am not winning the hand or hands that would take me to a FT. I think iti is inevitable it will be soon, but until then I will keep plugging away in hopes of a decent finish.

Took on a new foster child this past week. Life has been crazy, but it always is.

Trying to keep positive

Well last night I decided to do a one nighter with a bunch of sats and the NHG, 70K and 50/50. The 50/50 was an early exit with QQ to AA, then AQ to AK. The 100K was a bad ending as I let a largtard limp blind on blind with A10cc for me. Flop came 10 7 x, he raise, I repop and he shoves. I call and he has 89 goes turn and river 6. Got them in good, didn't hold.

The 70K was my best shot, I had the chip lead for about an hour at one point. I got reshoved on a reraise by a LAG player to my right and later with the two highest vPIP players raising and reraising, I squeezed with a shove of JJ. THe flop came low, the turn was a K to make Lagtardo IV the wiener of the hand. Sad ending to good play and just not holding the highly critical hand.

My BAPs are stagnant and I am not gaining ground despite few errors. I can only keep playing and hope to turn the corner on a few wins during my apparent upcoming grind.

Keep the faith!!

A night off

Well I am up this morning and after a night off, I thought I'd throw a quick post up. Monday night was actually ok. I ran fairly well and made a few nice plays to take me deep in the $70K and 50/50 as well as the $16.50 on stars. I have started to run better at FTP and stars is turning back for me as well. I plan to put a full session in and see if I can turn my BAP around, which I am so looking forward to doing.

Monday night I ran without talking on Skype or Vent and it may have had some effect on my results. I am going to tighten up the conversations to minimal participants and keep my concentration level high. I also need to get that hand grabber working right so I can minimize info chasing for the rail. I don't post bust hands, but tourney IDs and the like are a pain in the ass on stars to track if you don't write them down.

I haven't put a lot of time into coaching lately outside of ghosting II Aces. I need to get status' on my students and see what more they'd like to go through. I think that a few HH reviews through the replayer may be in order. I fear they feel like they are bothering me, which is never the case. I enjoy working with them.

My mentor and coach I think is taking the rest of the month off. He's been frustrated by the lack of deep runs as have I. He's to good not to win with regularity- so I doubt he'll be out too long if at all.

Hope to post about a FT tomorrow.

Seriously

So goes another night of pure donkdom. For the thrid straight night I have positioned my self incredibly well in a FTP tournament with a top10% stack only to go completely unlucky losing every race and dominant hand I play. It's not like I have been a lagtard, I mean these are truly disgusting runs where I have no explaination. I play them EXACTLY as they should be played and I get beat mostly by lesser hands.

Thing that is even better is that most of the opponents are playing garbage, so that makes this so much worse. Some examples: 50/50 last night top 50 stack with KQss on the button folded to me. I 2.75x raise and the BB who barely has me covered calls. Flop QXXccc flops. I bet 2/3, he flats. Turn J, he checks I bet 2/3 he shoves and I am committed. I call and he has 107cc. How can I account for the 1:114 flop and why is this BS always in a hugely critical hand against the one guy that has me covered? I have flopped an overset to be rivered by quads, flopped a set with my opponent calling the reraise on a 3 club board with 2nd pair only to turn his higher set on the turn, 3 and 2 outed way to many times to count.

We are beyond ankle grabbing, we are into full poker sodomy. What's worse is II Aces, a friend, student and investor has seen most all of this. I feel bad he has to witness what is definately my worst run ever.

I need a heater.

Running like a 2 legged horse

So I have been quiet on the blog front, but it is really matter because my play has been silent as well. I have gained nice stacks only to lose time and time again in critical races and spots where I am dominant. It doesn't feel like variance, it feels liked riggedness. I play too well not to get rewarded on occasion.

Last night I was 2/180 in the 28K with 100bbs. I didn't win but 1/7 races after I got the stack. I had people raising in EP with 44 and calling 3 bets and still getting paid. The frustration is there, but it hasn't tilted me. I know I will prevail. I hope it is sooner than later.

Saturday night = no soup for wannabe

Well again another fail for a FT on FTP. 5 handed in the Big Double B, A8hh in the SB and lagtardo 2(brother of lagtardo from last night) wakes up with KK on the button after I reshove to get his 39% vPIP* off my back. Gee Gee** me- 10th.

The highlight of the night was a KO of Gavin Smith. A small smile in the 50/50 for me, but I proceeded to go from 13th early to no cash after a trip 5 flop was crushed by 64 off that flopped the straight. At least the entry was free and I look forward to my free t-shirt. I need something new to mow the lawn in.



The rest of the night was pretty standard. I played well in the 70K again, but again shoved into a monster. I guess I just don't get why there always seems to be AA and KK out there when I have to make my move. The poker Gods need to give me a break. The 28K yielded a pretty big stack and a guy chasing AK. Guess who won?

A lot have been asking me about my plans to run big FTOPS events. I really don't have a plan. There are a few events I will play, but for the most part- I am going to pass. My BAP on PTP is only made to satty in. I really haven't played many SATs so far and Full Tilt frustrates the hell out of me. If these were on stars, I would play every one out there fitting.

On the home front, it's mother's day. Hope if I even have one mom out there who frequents my ramblings, they have a great day today. I am going to pass on the FTOPs today because there exists a honey-do list with my name on it. My wife was served Starbucks, waffles(from the waffle maker) and bacon this morning in bed. I also did the standard flower bouquet because I don't care for wife inflicted celibacy.

Tonight I will be back for more sodomy from FTP and hopefully the draught ends and I pick up a top 3 in a GTD on either site.

*vPIP - voluntarily put in pot. Standard tight players are 20% or less in 9 man ring/tables.
** Gee Gee - refers to good game or GG.

Ah the tides are changing

Well Thursday night brought a final table, but was it in the 100K? no. 70K? no 40K? no. It was the $5.50 - 2r1a and I finished 5th for a whopping $320. I know many think it's a good finish, I guess I am at the point where if I don't final 3 any tourney it is disappointing.

Tonight featured a deep run in the 35K on tilt only to go out in typical tilt fashion. AJ to A7 when lagtardo hits a 7 on the river. Good call buddy after I reshoved you 4x. The 20th place finish in the $16.50 on stars was a well played hand by my opponent and I was pwnt AQ to AA to A9 suited. The A9 suited guy was short and reshoved the AA took care of the rest.

I'm playing way too well not to hit another big score. Full Tilt hates me and I contemplate just not playing there. The other part of me is the competitive part which insists on a +ROI plus I like their tourney offering better at the times I play. I am caught in the middle of the warp. The miniFTOPs keeps me there for now. I even played stud tonight. UB can flat out just blow me. That site sucks like a ...you get the jist.

Good friend of mine, DawgBaws on PTP, introduced another friend to the site recently. He'll be joining soon as well. He had been hearing about some scores put up and I helped him to a 2nd in a 45 man on UB. I suspect we'll have another beast on PBT and PTP soon.

On the home front, my youngest boy turned 5 and got a new bike and trampoline for his birthday. Good times.

Our foster daughter had tubes put in today(Friday) and adnoids removed from her nose. While the skull surgery looms, maybe she'll get some relief fromt he ears and nose.

BAP Finishes

Well, after a grueling month my investors were split on keeping the grind on or stopping and renewing. Since it was split, I ended it all tonight after a shot at the 100K and a decent volume session. I didn't fair well. The entire BAP ended down $400 so about 9% overall this month. I have prided myself on not ending down, so this really sucks for me. The only saving grace is that I didn't fall too short.

I put up a new BAP for my big FTOPs and Heeb- though only 2 FTOPs are confirmed, the rest need to be satted into. I also have a full minitops schedule at PBT set up and will grind for that one as well.

Another campout looms this weekend- this time with my daughter, so I will be starting Sunday.I expect good things from FTOPs soI am pretty excited I can turn it around at FTP. Stars has always been fair to me. FTP doesn't like my account.

That's it for now- if you're interested in my BAP:
May Heeb at PTP

Recapping last night and beyond

I thought this would be a great spot for me to let out steam, share my inner most personal thoughts and talk about playing poker. This was all inspired by my hold em coach, Chardrian, who also has a blog on here. If he could only teach me to run better, he'd earn his keep. Other than the run better, I feel he has worked out the leaks I have though I still find the occasional spew in my game. Char has been playing well lately, but the cards have been less than kind. He's due for his next FT appearance in short order. Hopefully, I am at a FT in short order as well.

This past month has been pretty good for poker play in general though. A 3rd in the 40K a few weeks back didn't hurt. Getting coolered twice in the 40K last night sucks though as I had a top 25 stack mid way through before AA lost to AQ. Life goes on, but it would have been nice to have run even semi decent last night. I ran KK into AA three times in last night's session. What are the odds on that little run?

My BAP for PTP is near break even again, which is disappointing. I have played well with little to show for it all. I have a few days to finish strong and get into FTOPs. I sold out my action on pokerbytrade.com in about a day for the miniFTOPs. The regular FTOPs may or may not be a part of my May heeb for PTP. I guess I should really figure that out soon. It is sometimes tough to be on two staking sites. I have a solid following at PTP, but am a bigger fish in a smaller pond at PBT. Yes I am a fish :sighaments:

On the coaching front, I haven't had a lot of activity with my students Firestarters and RDTigger. Both had been playing well of late. Firestarters has continued to improve with the tweaks we made. RD has been busy, but life comes first so I am sure we'll see him around again sooner or later. I have been on skype a lot though with Depew33, EPTPokerstars and pool123. Depew and EPT have had some nice sucesses the last few weeks. Pool123 has just started to join conversations. II Aces joins me in chat most nights. He's a pretty good player that is in a bout of negative variance. No7luck, my last student, is on a heater right now and feels compelled to play the bigger buy ins. I wish him well because I know when it goes bad, it can go real bad.

I plan to put a full session on at least 2 of the next 3 nights to finish off the forementioned BAP. Hopefully, it will end with a bang, but if not no one will lose much to any due to us riding the 40K finish a week or so ago. I probably should start playing on my own dime with my bankroll being large enough to cover variance for awhile. Aside, I still remain profitable long and short term so it could be done, but I'd have to drop the high end buy ins out of the mix. Likely, will wait just because I want to play those bigger tourneys anyhow. Two months is my goal to be self sufficient if I choose up to $163. It was just 15 months ago I was grinding $1.20 9 mans to earn a BR. The only thing holding me back now is whether my wife insists on a trip to Florida this summer. That mouse can burn a BR faster than than tilting on a $10/20 table. I guess I better get to winning.