Well, I have played poker on and off for 2-3 years. I have had some success, but would run my roll up, only to lose it. I have tried NL cash [FR/6max/HU], I also tried strictly STT and MTT on Stars. I have never had any consistent success.

One day, I decided that my biggest problem was tilt and frankly, no limit poker.

I wanted to take up a new game, and learn it well. I started playing 7 card stud, and have never enjoyed playing poker this much. Long story [shorter], I found I had more success in Stud 8 and havent looked back.


***GOAL***
- To turn my current $415.34 into $2,000 within the year.
-- To have a roll >$2k and a winrate that will enable me to save from January 2011 until the WSOP in 2011.
- To enter one/both $1.5k Stud or Stud 8 tournaments @ WSOP 2011. [Using 50/50 of poker money and part-time job money]


**Keys to Success**
- Practice good BRM. As of now I am using 200bb while at 1/2 or lower, but won't move up to 2/4+ until 300bb . [I will play 1/2 with $400, and drop to .50/1 at $350]
-- Buy a Stud/Stud8 book...will ask around 2+2 for suggestions, although leaning towards Zee's Stud. This will tide me over until my CR kicks in July 1.
--- Try to gradually add more tables, even if having to add lower limits.
---- Buy Stud Tracker.
----- Copy big hands, post them on 2+2, learn about them on and off the computer.



This goal may seem steep, since it is limit and isn't Holdem. I realize the best winrates online are in NLHE and PLO, but I don't think it's wrong to try it with something I enjoy.

I will play only about an hour tonight, because I refuse to play tired and only when I can bring MY best game. I will post results after every session. I don't have Stud Tracker yet, so will post the basics of my highs and inevitable lows.

For anyone who will follow this, thanks in advance! Any advice, opinions, or flaming is ok. I will take all the feedback I can get.

Session #1

-Started: $415.34 ||| Finished: $438.10
--1 hour, +$22.76


*I didn't have any trouble hands/spots to post. It was very straightforward, and won the majority on 1 hand, in which I scooped with wheel. Everything else was folding, stealing, passing chips.

Session #2 (All stud8)

-started $438 ||| finished $420
-- 2.5 hours, -$18 [+$4]


*got up a few bb's early, and got very unlucky this afternoon. My rolled 4's lost to 3-7 scoop on 7th. The last had I played, lead with aaKQA2 to xxJ5TK and lost with Trips, to his Boat 555JJ on 7th.

I made a big mistake in one hand, chasing low to 2 made highs raising, and couldnt catch. Other than that, felt today's losses were more "just poker".

gl. what u playing on?

Thanks! Playing mainly 1/2 Stud 8 right now, maybe a .5/1 for more hands.

I guess I should have mentioned that I play on Full Tilt as Re3el_Pr1de.

Session #3 (all stud8)

-Started $420 || Ended $375
-- 2 hours, -$45 [-$41]


*My first big roadblock, only 3 sessions in. I felt I played pretty well, but these 2 hands were crippling. I thought for sure both were played correctly, but it didnt work out. First time I have had "maniacs/lags" at a stud8 game. Raising face cards and hands like KT2r. I will probably start at .50/1 tomorrow, and try 1/2 when back over $400.




Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 Limit Stud Hi/Lo $0.20 Ante - 8 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

3rd Street: (1.6 SB)
Seat 1: xx xx 7____Seat 1 calls____Seat 1 calls
Seat 2: xx xx 3____Seat 2 completes
Seat 3: xx xx 4____Seat 3 folds
Hero: A 3 3___Hero brings in for $0.25___Hero calls
Seat 5: xx xx 7____Seat 5 calls____Seat 5 calls
Seat 6: xx xx 4____Seat 6 folds
Seat 7: xx xx J____Seat 7 calls____Seat 7 calls
Seat 8: xx xx 8____Seat 8 folds

4th Street: (6.6 SB) (5 players)
Seat 1: xx xx 7 K____Seat 1 calls
Seat 2: xx xx 3 K____Seat 2 calls
Hero: A 3 3 3___Hero bets
Seat 5: xx xx 7 6____Seat 5 calls
Seat 7: xx xx J Q____Seat 7 calls

5th Street: (5.8 BB) (5 players)
Seat 1: xx xx 7 K 2____Seat 1 calls
Seat 2: xx xx 3 K J____Seat 2 folds
Hero: A 3 3 3 6___Hero bets
Seat 5: xx xx 7 6 K____Seat 5 calls
Seat 7: xx xx J Q T____Seat 7 calls

6th Street: (9.8 BB) (4 players)
Seat 1: xx xx 7 K 2 9____Seat 1 calls
Hero: A 3 3 3 6 J___Hero checks___Hero calls
Seat 5: xx xx 7 6 K 2____Seat 5 checks____Seat 5 calls
Seat 7: xx xx J Q T 9____Seat 7 bets

7th Street: (13.8 BB) (4 players)
Seat 1: xx xx 7 K 2 9 xx____Seat 1 bets
Hero: A 3 3 3 6 J 8___Hero checks___Hero calls
Seat 5: xx xx 7 6 K 2 xx____Seat 5 checks____Seat 5 calls
Seat 7: xx xx J Q T 9 xx____Seat 7 checks____Seat 7 calls



--------------------------------

Full Tilt Poker $1/$2 Limit Stud Hi/Lo $0.20 Ante - 8 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

3rd Street: (1.6 SB)
Seat 1: xx xx T____Seat 1 folds
Seat 2: xx xx T____Seat 2 folds
Seat 3: xx xx 9____Seat 3 folds
Hero: 6 2 3___Hero completes___Hero calls___Hero calls
Seat 5: xx xx Q____Seat 5 raises____Seat 5 caps!
Seat 6: xx xx 8____Seat 6 folds
Seat 7: xx xx K____Seat 7 3-bets____Seat 7 calls
Seat 8: xx xx 9____Seat 8 folds

4th Street: (13.6 SB) (3 players)
Hero: 6 2 3 4___Hero bets___Hero 3-bets___Hero calls
Seat 5: xx xx Q T____Seat 5 raises____Seat 5 caps!
Seat 7: xx xx K 4____Seat 7 checks____Seat 7 calls____Seat 7 calls

5th Street: (12.8 BB) (3 players)
Hero: 6 2 3 4 J___Hero bets___Hero calls
Seat 5: xx xx Q T 2____Seat 5 raises
Seat 7: xx xx K 4 Q____Seat 7 checks____Seat 7 calls

6th Street: (18.8 BB) (3 players)
Hero: 6 2 3 4 J J___Hero checks___Hero calls
Seat 5: xx xx Q T 2 7____Seat 5 bets
Seat 7: xx xx K 4 Q 5____Seat 7 calls

7th Street: (21.8 BB) (3 players)
Hero: 6 2 3 4 J J 3___Hero checks___Hero calls
Seat 5: xx xx Q T 2 7 xx____Seat 5 checks____Seat 5 calls
Seat 7: xx xx K 4 Q 5 xx____Seat 7 bets

Session #4 [All Stud Hi]

Started: $375 || Ended: $395
-2 tables, 1 hour, +$20 {-$21}


* There wasn't a .5/1 Stud8 table, and decided to move over to 2 tables of Stud hi. I had rolled hands twice, played one well and the other too strong on 3rd and missed more money. This was a great way to start my day, and my path back to 1/2.

Session #5 [All Stud hi]

Started: $395 || Ended: $406
-1.5 hours, +$11 [-$9]


*This session started rough, folding for probably 45 minutes, then finally hit a few hands. Won all 3 hands that went to showdown, and made very few mistakes. The profits werent great, but 11bb on 2 tables in 90 minutes isn't terrible.

I'm hoping for a great day tomorrow, and pumped for the soccer game. USA USA USA!!!

Session #6 [Stud Hi]

Started: $406 || Ended: $402
-1 hour, -$4 [-$13]


*No real notes. Won a big hand with boat, lost a big hand with AAA< boat.