Background:

I'm in my mid-twenties. I've been playing poker for over ten years. I have also been playing a game called "StarCraft" since I was nine years old. Which is one of the best real time strategy games you could play. However, I am by no means a pro at poker or StarCraft. I also played a little Age Of Empires.

I grew up playing video games and cards as a kid. First it started with POG's (which ironically look like poker chips), and you could wager your POG's in each game at school. (aka, Gamble it up!) After that it was Pokemon Cards, then I found out about Magic The Gathering, and Yu-gi-oh which I would play at lunch time. I also entered a Chess Tournament when I was little but didn't make it past the third round.

I was introduced to online poker by a friend of mine that I met online playing StarCraft. He sent me $3 on PokerStars and I was hooked. This was before blackfriday of course.

More about my poker "career" to date:

I haven't taken the game seriously but I have always been fascinated with it. I'm the guy that blows his Friday paycheck every other Friday type of player. Never took bankroll management seriously and for ten years I've lost thousands of dollars trying to run up small amounts of money. I was once offered a sponsorship deal when I was 21 but turned it down. I think I would have either became a prop-player or a house player. I'm not sure which one they were pitching. I just knew I had a lot to work on and that being sponsored would be a bad idea at the time.

I have occasionally played online but mostly I jump high up in stakes and lose my bankroll within a day or so. That's all about to change.

After losing my job I now have a bunch of free time to actually grind poker and work on my game. I will be looking for work within a couple of months but for now I'm content with taking a break from the daily grind which is the work force.

My goals are simple:

* I will be posting graphs and HH's in this PG&C.
** I will be sticking to a strict bankroll.
*** I will post my thoughts daily in this thread to stay focused.
**** I'll be holding myself accountable to a friend and this thread.

This is my Dojo and I will treat poker with the respect that it deserves while trying to improve my game in 2016.

Day 1

Been thinking about playing on ACR and starting out at 5NL with ~$250 bankroll. Also getting Hold 'em Manager 2 today.

Heard there are a lot of regs on ACR but that's okay. Planning on grinding six tables at a time. Hopefully a fish or two pops up.

Started my first hour down -$13.50 but stayed focused. Ended up +$12.86 over 2k hands.

Played 4 hours 37 minutes.

Played four more hours won another dollar. Was playing 2NL and 5NL.

Played for an hour +$5.82 / 5NL

Day 2

Going to get some rest as I was up late last night. After that it's back to the grind. Have to figure out how to post HH's as well.

Down -$21.54 in 1 hour 34 minutes. Played terrible. Made some really bad calls when I knew I was beat.

Kind of "curiosity killed the cat" type plays. Going to take a break.

Going to get back at it pretty soon.

"I was once offered a sponsorship deal when I was 21 but turned it down. I think I would have either became a prop-player or a house player. I'm not sure which one they were pitching. I just knew I had a lot to work on and that being sponsored would be a bad idea at the time."
What kind of deal are you taking about?

The owner of the house wanted to sponsor me. That's all they said. "You know I could sponsor you." I turned it down because I was young and I didn't really know them that well.



Down -$5.15 after an hour of play. I'm pretty tired. Not having a good day. Going to take a nap and see how it goes tonight.

Down -$20.77 in an hour and half. Took a break and went out for pizza.

Time to put in some work!

Got back +$9.33 after two and half hours. I was up +$17 but I donked some of it off.

Been jumping in the high limit games again. Luckily I didn't go busto, although I came close. Was down to my last $80 and made a come back to $320.

Up to $450 now.

Day 3

Played for an hour made .30 cents. Sticking to 5NL no more jumping up in stakes. I was so close to busto at one point. Got very, very lucky.

Going to eat lunch then get back to the grind.

Goal:

Play 4+ hours of 5NL.

Lost -$20.34 in an 1 hour 13 minutes.

First hand was 88 vs KK, flop came down K 7 8 rainbow. Nothing I could do set over set. I guess I should have folded the player is so tight when he five bet I should have known.

Next hand was QK vs AQ, flop was Q 4 3 turn Q river A... he had AQ. Should have folded to river shove.

Bankroll: $440

Taking a break. Stop loss 4 buy-ins.

Played some heads up with a friend. Won $9.47.

Bankroll: $449.97

Went and played pool with a friend came back and played 5NL for two hours.

Won $3.64



Going to study some YouTube videos then go to sleep.

Bankroll: $453.79
Total Hours: 19

Played almost an hour lost -$12.46

I was down about $25 though, so I made a little bit back. Plus I hero called this guy who was talking smack at the table for 200bbs. That was probably the funnest table I played in a while.

Got to remember to have some fun too. Poker should be fun sometimes.

Bankroll: $441
Total hours: 20

Day 4

Woke up early to go to the store with a friend. Got some pizza though. Love pizza.

About to put in a few hours of 5NL.

If you have some issues with br management, I recommend you to exclude yourself from higher levels, so you can't play even if you want.

That's a good idea. Not sure how to do that though.

Took a power nap. Ready to put in a good amount of hours today.

Goal:
8+ hours

Down $8.74 in two hours.

Bankroll: $430
Total hours played: 22

Won $11.00 playing 1 hour 22 minutes.

Going to study then call it a night.

Bankroll: $441
Total hours: 23