So this is the deal. Been playing poker for a few years, I consider myself an above average player yet I always seem to be loading money on and on and on then cashing out if I win a grand or so. I put this down to me playing to win money and not playing the game hence just about breaking even over the years.

I have just recently had 3 decent finishes on stars (which for the past 10 years I thought had cursed me!) and I now am in a situation where I have a moderate bank roll but more important I have cashed out enough money so that I feel like i 'need' to win and I don't 'need' to cash out. So in effect I want to prove to myself that I am a decent player but the gamble in me has screwed me over in the past.

So - I am posting this is so that I can make sure that I keep my **** together. $1500 in stars at the moment and I feel I should be able to work a half decent ROI up and as I'll be less interested in cashing I should be FT'ing more and getting the decent payouts. Plus with comments from 2+2's I hope to improve my game massively. Plus the usual q's on how I played a hand or should play...

Few q's....

I have $1500 and I have set myself a max of 22$ per MTT. As I will be playing 1/2/3Rebuys plus some 5's I guess it works out an average of 100 buy ins which I hope is enough!?

At this time I make no notes on players - any advice on how best to approach this?

Also I want to use some sort of poker software...hold em manager seems to be what I should get but is there anything better that I should look at?

Okay so starting tonight. $1510

It's nearly 10pm so playing all turbos as need sleep for work!

Day One-28may2012

(Start)

Current status : 'stars account $1510

Number of MTT's entered : 8

Total in $110

Ill post results and notes daily if poss ....

Fold / Shove

PokerStars Hand #81157864857: Tournament #575011261, $20+$5+$2 USD Hold'em No Limit - Level VII (125/250) - 2012/05/28 23:31:36 WET [2012/05/28 18:31:36 ET]
Table '575011261 31' 9-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 1: pitrogar (11092 in chips)
Seat 2: Sänd (2590 in chips)
Seat 3: HERO(6854 in chips)
Seat 4: dubstu (3000 in chips)
Seat 5: gugamin (1610 in chips)
Seat 6: David_Wain (2725 in chips)
Seat 7: Chuck_Ali (2873 in chips)
Seat 8: MWAKI (8924 in chips)
Seat 9: HunaMatata (7031 in chips)
pitrogar: posts the ante 25
Sänd: posts the ante 25
HERO: posts the ante 25
dubstu: posts the ante 25
gugamin: posts the ante 25
David_Wain: posts the ante 25
Chuck_Ali: posts the ante 25
MWAKI: posts the ante 25
HunaMatata: posts the ante 25
David_Wain: posts small blind 125
Chuck_Ali: posts big blind 250
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to HERO [As Qh]
MWAKI: folds
HunaMatata: raises 250 to 500
pitrogar: folds
Sänd: folds
HERO: calls 500
dubstu: calls 500
gugamin: folds
David_Wain: raises 2200 to 2700 and is all-in
Chuck_Ali: folds
HunaMatata: raises 3550 to 6250
HERO: folds ??????
dubstu: folds

you can only really call here if there has been a pattern of play in the past and you have a read on how ppl are playing, otherwise its a pretty loose shove

K so first turbo session done.
8 games & 3 cashes. 2 min cash and one 43rd in the 16.50 27k gtd. Usual story AK vs JJ vs junk and enough chips to guarantee FT. Meh. There's always tomorrow.

Starting amount $1510 ending amount $1588
Plus $78 from $110 .

Pretty much played my A game and apart from the AQ mid stage of one of the games in pretty happy with how I played.

As a new poster I'm sure I'll make more notes and put some more details as time goes on.

Anyway work in 6 hours.

Define a gambler. Win 15$k in a week on poker. Decide life is amazing and your an awesome poker player at last. Yes you can grind it out. You can make money regularly instead of a decent cash everynow and them. Yes yes yes.

No- you decide to lose $1500 on slots. About $3000 on blackjack decide that you need to make up your losses by playing every major 200$ tourny on a Sunday determind to cash out 6 figures.after that your luck must change and start betting 50$ Holdem poker against casino with 50$ side bet. I actually won 3000$ back before losing ALL of it plus more.

You then realise you have a gambling problem-so you cash out enough to leave yourself some remains of your win. A new MacBook, 2500$ and internal dialogue saying you souls have stuck to poker and not played the stupid ****ing side games.

Define a mug- The OP. on a brighter note I'm giving myself 500$ to try and actually grind some 9/18man's plus try and spin myself up with 20NL CAP-no doubt I'll bust or stick it on ****ing red.

This is a lesson to anyone who will listen-gambling is for mugs. Play poker and stick to your bankroll.

If anyone has any advice that can make me feel better or at least stop me gambling I would appreciate it. I am sure if I went to GA or something they will want to take away my poker. Well that's not gonna happen!

GL all