Finally figured out that my tournament results were being kept in a quarantined spam filter from my email. Fixed that, uploaded yesterdays results and updated my MTT ROI above. About to start my first session of the day.

if you both like the deal then sweet. Win-win.

I win little enough that giving any of it away would be really annoying

Alrighty then. So got about another 3.5 hours of play in so far today putting me at 12.5/20 hours for the weekend. Managed to ship a $2.20 180 man. Also played a 5k guaranteed $2.20 turbo but got busted early. Currently finishing up my last 180 man, nearing the bubble and I have about 20k chips so should be an easy cash barring an unfortunate set up.

Will update in a bit with my finalized winnings for the session, BR currently over $430 and should only increase when I cash this last game. Will need a break for a bit to take care of some **** after that, but should be playing the rest of the afternoon/evening come 4:00-5:00. Should be right around my 20 hour goal when I complete the day, despite having missed my two sessions Friday.

Down to 13k after this hand.


Poker Stars $2.00+$0.20 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t500/t1000 Blinds + t100 - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

UTG+2: t10078 M = 4.20
MP1: t7422 M = 3.09
MP2: t5375 M = 2.24
CO: t14030 M = 5.85
Hero (BTN): t21316 M = 8.88
SB: t5155 M = 2.15
BB: t8345 M = 3.48
UTG: t7500 M = 3.12
UTG+1: t1555 M = 0.65

Pre Flop: (t2400) Hero is BTN with 9 T
6 folds, Hero raises to t21216 all in, 1 fold, BB calls t7245 all in

Flop: (t17890) 8 Q K (2 players - 2 are all in)

Turn: (t17890) 5 (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: (t17890) T (2 players - 2 are all in)



Anyone not shoving this ?

17 players remain, 800/1600 blinds, i'm sitting on 12k still after losing to a short stack, my A8 vs his J5.

Done updating til it's complete then will do my full session update.

So about 5 suckouts later I bust in 10th place for the min-cash. Could post all the beats but that's just a waste of time. Overall a good session, and I think I was playing spectacularly. BR and WR updates are below.

Session NET $57.76
FTP BR: $280.47 (Cash Game, WR = 2.21 PTBB/100)
Stars BR: $438.10 (MTT, WR = 79% ROI) (Daily NET $57.76)

Completed 37 games so far today, 180 lifetime at the $2.20 180's now. Need to get that number over 1k before I'll be happy moving up. Hoping I can maintain a 40-50% ROI over a large sample size on these. Back at it around 4:00PM CST.

12.75/20 hours completed for the weekend.

Keep up the good work Liking your thread.

And that T9s hand is a snap jam for sure.

I might start grinding 2.20 180s one I'm off my stake, hope you are gone by then Blake or I be stealing your monies ;D

Alright, used my break from 3:00PM to 4:30 to pound out some Step tickets on FTP. Played turbo STT's, all Step 1. Had 9 Step 1 tickets when I started, (3.30*9=$29.70). Completed and now hold 3 Step 2 tickets and 2 Step 1 ([3*8.7=$26.10]+[2*3.30=$6.60]=$32.70).

So basically I profited 3 dollars in 9 games. Anyways, will give those step twos a run later hoping to hit Step 3 so I can play a couple of the $24+2 90-man KO's and maybe get lucky. Really wish you could just convert step tickets for tourney dollars.

Anyways, will be starting my next session on Stars $2.20 180's and other <$2.20 MTT's here shortly. Going to set myself up to 16 table for this next session. If all goes well, that'll be the new norm. Some of you may think this is an easy feat, but for a guy that plays on a 15" laptop with only a touchpad, it's not always that simple =). Anyways, Chris, thanks for the support, and it's your table set up that has me ready to do this. Been 12 tabling with it like it's a joke and I doubt 16 tabling will be much harder. Hardest part will be opening up new games since I run on a Mac so no TN. Anyways, Taking a break for a beat session, but should be playing again around 5:15-5:30 CST.

The 180's are extremely soft but are high variance so if you can't handle the swings or aren't putting in large volume, I'd recommend staying away for now. I thought a 100 BI BR would be more than enough for these games, but now that I have it, I wouldn't be comfortable with less than a 200 BI roll. I want 300 BI's before I'd move up on my own without a stake.

14.25/20 hours completed

Ok. So seriously, that was the absolute most soul crushing session of poker I have ever played. I played a total of 3.75 hours, 16 tabling until the last hour and a half when I said **** it and decided to call my session early. I saw my AA and KK get cracked by sets, I shoved into BB who woke up with AA at least a dozen times. Overall extremely discouraging.

I played 47 games in that 3.75 hours. I cashed on all of 5 tournaments. Three of those cashes were for the minimum. Despite my atrocious beats I took throughout the session, I once again finished on a high note. I shipped one tournament via relentless, have no fear, blind stealing and catching a few lucky spots where I won as a 60/40 dog etc.

The 5th tournament I cashed in for 2nd place, was much, much more interesting. I have outlined a few hands from that tournament below, which will tell the story pretty well.

First major swing, a nasty nasty beat on the FT.

Poker Stars $2.00+$0.20 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t2500/t5000 Blinds + t500 - 6 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (SB): t40606 M = 3.87
BB: t42485 M = 4.05
UTG: t92496 M = 8.81
MP: t39624 M = 3.77
CO: t19210 M = 1.83
BTN: t35579 M = 3.39

Pre Flop: (t10500) Hero is SB with A K
3 folds, BTN calls t5000, Hero raises to t40106 all in, 1 fold, BTN calls t30079 all in

Flop: (t78158) 3 8 Q (2 players - 2 are all in)

Turn: (t78158) Q (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: (t78158) J (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: t78158
Hero shows A K (a pair of Queens)
BTN shows 8 A (two pair, Queens and Eights)
BTN wins t78158

Opted not to shove the next hand as I was holding 2/4 os on the button and had no FE as I couldn't even complete the blinds. Which led to this hand:

Poker Stars $2.00+$0.20 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t3000/t6000 Blinds + t600 - 6 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (CO): t4427 M = 0.35
BTN: t30385 M = 2.41
SB: t100996 M = 8.02
BB: t38524 M = 3.06
UTG: t18110 M = 1.44
MP: t77558 M = 6.16

Pre Flop: (t12600) Hero is CO with 5 K
1 fold, MP raises to t12000, Hero calls t3827 all in, 3 folds

Flop: (t22427) K Q 4 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Turn: (t22427) 6 (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: (t22427) 9 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: t22427
Hero shows 5 K (a pair of Kings)
MP shows 7 8 (high card King)
MP wins t4346
Hero wins t18081

And then:


Poker Stars $2.00+$0.20 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t3000/t6000 Blinds + t600 - 6 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (MP): t18081 M = 1.44
CO: t29785 M = 2.36
BTN: t97396 M = 7.73
SB: t31924 M = 2.53
BB: t17510 M = 1.39
UTG: t75304 M = 5.98

Pre Flop: (t12600) Hero is MP with 4 A
1 fold, Hero raises to t17481 all in, 3 folds, BB calls t10910 all in

Flop: (t40420) Q 9 6 (2 players - 2 are all in)

Turn: (t40420) A (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: (t40420) Q (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: t40420
Hero shows 4 A (two pair, Aces and Queens)
BB shows 3 3 (two pair, Queens and Threes)
Hero wins t40420

A few more small steals and then:


Poker Stars $2.00+$0.20 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t3500/t7000 Blinds + t700 - 3 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (BTN): t79715 M = 6.33
SB: t137481 M = 10.91
BB: t52804 M = 4.19

Pre Flop: (t12600) Hero is BTN with 7 7
Hero raises to t79015 all in, 1 fold, BB calls t45104 all in

Flop: (t109808) 9 J 5 (2 players - 2 are all in)

Turn: (t109808) K (2 players - 2 are all in)

River: (t109808) 9 (2 players - 2 are all in)

Final Pot: t109808
Hero shows 7 7 (two pair, Nines and Sevens)
BB shows Q A (a pair of Nines)
Hero wins t109808

HU goes back and forth for a few hands, trying to feel him out. Knew if I could hit hard, I could stack him off Post Flop. Then this comes along:

Poker Stars $2.00+$0.20 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t3500/t7000 Blinds + t700 - 2 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (BB): t124819 M = 10.49
BTN/SB: t145181 M = 12.20

Pre Flop: (t11900) Hero is BB with 7 8
BTN/SB raises to t21000, Hero calls t14000

Flop: (t43400) 4 7 3 (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN/SB bets t28000, Hero raises to t103119 all in, BTN/SB calls t75119

Turn: (t249638) 3 (2 players - 1 is all in)

River: (t249638) 8 (2 players - 1 is all in)

Final Pot: t249638
Hero shows 7 8 (two pair, Eights and Sevens)
BTN/SB shows K 3 (three of a kind, Threes)
BTN/SB wins t249638

And that's all she wrote.

Anyways, that 3.75 hours puts me at a total of 18/20 hours played this weekend. Close enough for me considering I missed all day Friday and I will likely also spend another hour or two doing review this evening. May spend some time brushing up on backgammon strategy as well as I have been spending some of my weekends playing for cash with the old man, and at $5 a point, it'd be nice if I could beat him regularly =).

BR and WR updates are below. I have also taken this opportunity to add a graph of my MTT winnings to date. On a side note, I'm about 85% of the way to unlocking my first $10 Stellar Bonus Reward !@! Yay !@!

Session NET $89.36
FTP BR: $280.47 (Cash Game, WR = 2.21 PTBB/100)
Stars BR: $527.66 (MTT, WR = 81% ROI) (Daily NET $147.12)

Yes yes, sample size is still very small and the ROI is likely unsustainable. Waiting for it to settle in the 40-50% region (hopefully).


Until next time all. Enjoy the rest of your evenings and don't forget, have 50000000 BI's for whatever you play, cause variance is an absolute bitch.

well this is my first post on this forum and i must say i dont usually post on forums but decided to push the boat out and get involved as i am playing part time online and live while runing my own business , any way enough about me , i must say i have spent the last 2 hours reading every post on this thread and wanted to wish u the best of luck fella, great info and stats to read through fair play to you controlling your roll at low stakes (a problem of myn and many of ours lol ) I hope to make a few posts and become a regular on here and will keep reading your thread, i hope to take a lot from this forum and also got a little to share lol , well good luck fella and remember variance is a bitch but we love it really. good luck

Thank you for the encouragement. This forum is a wealth of knowledge and a must in my opinion for any growing poker player.

Getting a late start tonight. Went out wakeboarding and wiped hard once head over heels, hard enough that I did a somersault underwater after I came down...My face still hurts... Good news is, I'm clearing the wake (one side to the other) about 50% of the time now, sometimes I come down a little short, other times I bite it hard. Anyways, feels good to be finally be as aggressive and comfortable out there as I've been hoping for all summer.

Anyways, popping onto FTP now to play the last of my step 1 (qty 2) and step 2 (qty 3) tickets, hoping to get at least 1 or two step 3's out of the deal. Will once again be playing the turbo STT's (hoping they don't take too long to start). May play some 5NL once done, just not in the mood to grind 180s after last nights swingfest.

Will update once complete.

Edit: Looks like regular speed and super turbos are all that are running for Step 2 tickets. Going to stick with the regular speed as I've never dabbled in super turbos...

Alrighty, session complete.

I went from:

Step 1 (QTY 2) $3.30*2 = $6.60
Step 2 (QTY 3) $8.70*3 = $26.10
Total = $32.70

to

Step 1 (QTY 1) $3.30*1 = $3.30
Step 2 (QTY 1) $8.70*1 = $8.70
Step 3 (QTY 1) $26.0*1 = $26.00
Total = $38.00

Well, I now have one step 3 ticket which I think I will use for a $26-45 or 90 man. Thinking the 90 man, at least then if I don't cash, I could at least get a couple bucks out of these damn things in actual cash from KO's.

Really just wish I could somehow convert to tourney dollars and use them towards something more in my roll. Oh well, gotta use em I guess.

That's gonna be it for me for tonight. Going to read a little more backgammon strategy and catch some zzzzz.

Best of luck to you all at the tables.

Have you considered using your step 3 ticket in a Matrix STT? If you want to make sure you get at least some money from the ticket, this may be the way to go.

Great suggestion. I think I just may !

So per Tom Peters suggestion, I used my Step 3 ticket towards a $24+2 Matrix STT. Screenshot below =).

Also played 4 $2.25 Turbo STTs at the same time. Profited $12.60 on those as well with two first places, and a third place.



Session NET $90.36
FTP BR: $370.83
Stars BR: $527.66 (MTT, WR = 81% ROI)

Not too bad off a freeroll via Full Tilt Poker Academy credits if I may say so myself.

Still have one step two ticket and 2 step one tickets (cashed in my remaining few iron man medals (32) for one more step one ticket.

Talk about some run good at the right time.

Taking a break for some dinner, may or may not play more later, it's been a good day, my back is killing me, and I would really like nothing more than to try to get to bed super early !

Two interesting hands from the last table of the Matrix.

Edit: Challenge almost complete. Total between FTP and Stars is now $898.49. While I haven't quite stuck to the STT challenge, I have stuck to my BR requirements. I should probably subtract the $100 I added to my Stars account though or just consider it $150-1000... Will likely start a new thread with a more defined challenge once I reach the 1k mark.

2 hands from the final STT.

Close call here. At the time I think I made the wrong call. Had the exact same hand play out heads up on a 2-180 the other day and was very upset with my call. Here evaluating the odds 5.1 to 3.5 I think it's the right call as I only need 3 to 2 to play vs any ace and we will likely see villain with small PP's here. Very close though.

Full Tilt Poker $24 + $2 Matrix 4x No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t400/t800 Blinds - 3 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

BTN: t2820 3.52 BBs
SB: t4300 5.38 BBs
Hero (BB): t6380 7.97 BBs

Pre Flop: (t1200) Hero is BB with Q K
1 fold, SB raises to t4300 all in, Hero calls t3500

Flop: (t8600) 9 9 T

Turn: (t8600) T

River: (t8600) 3

Final Pot: t8600
SB shows 8 A (two pair, Tens and Nines)
Hero shows Q K (two pair, Tens and Nines)
SB wins t8600

This hand is really close, I'm going to have to stove it to find out if I made the correct fold. I didn't necessarily think villain had a larger pair than me, but the way the table had been played, I still had some FE, and calling two all-ins with such a vulnerable hand cannot be profitable... Also with the SB all-in as the short stack and the button be short as well, I just think there is more equity in waiting even if it does show a slightly positive expectation. If I had the opportunity to ISO and CO wasn't already all-in and had me covered, I definitely would have come along. Without the FE...sigh...just need to stove it. Also, I didn't estimate CO's range to be nearly that wide, thought it was at least A or K high.

Full Tilt Poker $24 + $2 Matrix 4x No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t300/t600 Blinds - 5 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

UTG: t3220 5.37 BBs
CO: t3920 6.53 BBs
BTN: t1650 2.75 BBs
SB: t1050 1.75 BBs
Hero (BB): t3660 6.10 BBs

Pre Flop: (t900) Hero is BB with T T
1 fold, CO raises to t3920 all in, 1 fold, SB calls t750 all in, 1 fold

Flop: (t2700) J 9 8

Turn: (t2700) 4

River: (t2700) Q

Final Pot: t2700
CO shows 9 7 (a pair of Nines)
SB shows K J (a pair of Jacks)
SB wins t2700

Went on to win this table despite these two hands.

So, not really in the mood to play tonight. Work has been kicking my ass lately. 10 hour days which is the usual for me but when it's 96 degrees and humid as a mother ****er it takes a lot out of me.

Anyways, I fired up 4 tables of $2.25 STT Turbos while watching some TV. Think that'll be it for me tonight as I'm damn near passed out at the moment. Flipped another movie on, if I wake up at all, I'll consider playing one more set of 4 tables.

Didn't run great but I find it hard to believe how bad some villains are at this level...

LOL hand of the day:

Full Tilt Poker $2 + $0.25 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t300/t600 Blinds - 3 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

BTN: t1655 2.76 BBs
Hero (SB): t1065 1.77 BBs
BB: t10780 17.97 BBs

Pre Flop: (t900) Hero is SB with 6 T
1 fold, Hero raises to t1065 all in, 1 fold

Final Pot: t1200
Hero wins t1200

Session NET $12.60
FTP BR: $383.43
Stars BR: $527.66 (MTT, WR = 81% ROI)
Total Roll: $911.09

****ty start to the night. Only 8 STT's played 4 tabling $2.25 Turbos but running like crap. Aces cracked twice AIPF, only one cash (first). Here's the go **** yourself from FTP from my last game.


Full Tilt Poker $2 + $0.25 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t150/t300 Blinds - 4 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

Hero (BTN): t5781 19.27 BBs
SB: t1500 5 BBs
BB: t906 3.02 BBs
CO: t5313 17.71 BBs

Pre Flop: (t450) Hero is BTN with A K
CO raises to t600, Hero raises to t5781 all in, 2 folds, CO calls t4713 all in

Flop: (t11076) 4 J 9

Turn: (t11076) 7

River: (t11076) 3

Final Pot: t11076
Hero shows A K (Ace King high)
CO shows Q Q (a pair of Queens)
CO wins t11076

Sigh, oh well, gonna eat and get back on the grind, probably going to fire up 12 tables of the same $2.25 STT Turbo on FTP. Play maybe 2 sessions and hopefully do a little bit better...

BR Update:
Down $9 on the day.

glad to see you going so well, keep up the good work! I'm looking to join you in the 180's in a few weeks, not going to reg them until i have at least 150 BI, grinding the don's atm.

Good call on the 150 BI's. I played 8 or so with only $100 in my PS account. Got lucky and shipped one with a second place finish on another to get me close to properly rolled. Seeing the variance in them now, I probably wouldn't try again with less than 200 BI's but I'm a BR nit !

Thank you for the encouragement.

I didn't play anymore after my few games last night. I had actually played 9 games, with just one first place cash for a net loss of $11.25. BR updates are below. Received a few bucks from FTP in rakeback today. I'm hoping the wife will let me get at least a few hours of play in this weekend, not sure if I'll play STT's, 180's, or cash, but we only have plans Saturday night so that should leave me with plenty of time to play when I'm not brushing up on my backgammon.

Just want to hit the 1k mark now so I can set myself some new goals. I'm thinking something along the lines of $1,000-$2,500 playing 45-180 mans and then start withdrawing every 1k over that. Would love to make 15k+ in profit in 2011.

Session NET -$11.25
FTP BR: $376.63
Stars BR: $527.66 (MTT, WR = 81% ROI)
Total Roll: $904.29

Got a quick session in this afternoon 8 tabling $2.25 Turbo STT's on FTP. Went well, had some run bad on the few games I made the money, but overall a profitable 45 minutes or so (only one set, gotta get ready for dinner out). Should get some more play time in later tonight or tomorrow.

Session NET $9.90
FTP BR: $386.53
Stars BR: $527.66 (MTT, WR = 81% ROI)
Total Roll: $914.19

BAE-

Now that you have a pretty large sample of games (stts) Im curious what your roi is overall and also if you can break it down for standard/turbo games. Im not so sure the non-turbos have all that much of a higher roi like its often mentioned.

Congrats on your progress and looking forward to your 1k thread if you decide to make it.

Will be happy to fill in the ROI details for you. Unfortunately my sample size at the turbos is tiny (think 25 games total).

$2.25 STT Regular Speed
1054 Games Played
5/20-8/1
6% ROI
41% ITM

$2.25 STT Turbo Games
26 Games Played
8/1-Today
45% ROI
50% ITM

In my small sample of turbos I actually found that most players there have really no concept of ICM and what proper push/shove ranges should be, hence making the games a little softer, more variance heavy due to turbo structure, but softer IMO.

Today's update, spent the last 2.5 hours or so playing some MTT's, $2-180's on Stars, a couple $4.40 135's on tilt, and a handful of bigger $2 tourneys. 17 tourneys played total. Unfortunately, couldn't get much going overall, but I did manage to final table one of the two $4.40 180's I played.

Session NET -$13.56
FTP BR: $390.66
Stars BR: $509.90
Total Roll: $900.56

Still looking forward to the 1k mark, if only I could have done better than 7th on my one FT today, I could have been there. Oh well, hopefully it'll come soon.

Played another short session of $2.25 STT turbos this evening. Probably played 20 games or so, lost $5 or thereabouts. Comp not in front of me. Will continue to update interesting hands the next few days but no BR updates til I hit 1k.

On another note, going to try to get atleast 250 games in this week as I have been slacking terribly on volume.

I'm thinking my next challenge will involve learning PLO. I'd like to start with limit Omaha but doesn't seem like many games to be had at the micros. Hoping I can start PLO10 in the near future, preferably just high, not high/low.

Will update once I hit 1k. Have a bit more reading to do to learn the nuances of PLO a bit more.

Nice to see you're still truckin, keep it up.
Grind on da mind.
Hope to see ya on some stars tables.

GL