Merry Christmas everyone

n-dog

the big freeze

The big freeze has hit, frosty the snowman has iced my poker game, I can't get a bluff through, I'm getting no hands, and I can't get my hands to hold. As a result, I'm getting frustrated, and making mistakes.

I've gone from running like God, to running like a one legged fat man...

My profit for the year is a shade over $1,000, and I'm prepared to take that for this year which has probably taught me more about poker than any other. I've experienced many highs, and many lows.

Next years key to increased profitability,

1) Patience

2) Patience

3) Patience

4) Don't tilt off with bad calls

5) Stop trying to out think fish

6) Think more about position

7) Respect peoples play more
8) Stop ''calling for the pot odds'' when the call is so marginal

9) When I run well, don't put it down to good play, and when I run bad, don't put it down to bad play

10) CONCENTRATE!!!

I know I'm a good player when I concentrate, and am patient I feel I'm one of the best at my level. I just need to bring these two key aspects under my control, and I can make a lot of money.

I feel this year, I've been playing a lot of poker without thinking, I've become a little bit impatient and frustrated. I've started to play more for the money as opposed to enjoying the game. Whilst a lot of people may think, damn right. ''The game'' is what I love. I think I'm going to move back to tournaments. Playing so much cash to tournaments I think affects your love for the game, it becomes ''all about the money''...

Anyways, I'll sign off for now. I will try and not play till next year now, but my (ten) new years resolutions are above, and this will lead to a very profitable 2009 for N-Dog... I know it.

Merry Xmas everyone!!!

N-Dog

winter warmers

Was in Dublin for a three day course, though I showed up, and our handy HR woman had forgotten to book my on the course. Our support staff at work are SHITE, that they get paid at all is ridiculous.

Anyways, unfortunately I had to stay and listen to a load of dross I simply do not care about, and had heard many times before. I'd managed to block it out at least twice already, so a third time was not a challenge.

The only highlight of the trip was some good food, my philosophy of simply selecting restaurants that are busy paid dividends.

On the downside, within 5 minutes of logging onto the BT Openzone wifi I realised it wasn't going to work as it repeatedly disconnected. So, no poker.

However, with may gf away I've had lots more time to play poker, because I've been bored.

I've been running pretty well as of late, recouping the $1,500 (total) I've lost this year, from my peak. So, I'm back up at aroung $1,500 positive for the year, which 6 months ago I would never have thought given I was on $0.

I even played 30 hands (yes, a smash and grab) of 2/4. Doubled my $240 buyin with 1010 v A10 where we both played it very strangely, allin preflop.

Went to see the Zutons on Friday with a mate. I'd bought their latest CD only on Wednesday, cos I originally decided to go with my gf, just for a change, and not knowing anything of the band other than Valerie, so thought best to see what I was up against prior to arrival. I was actual very, very impressed. They played at our Villa Marina venue, which is a little bit too 'nice' for a music gig I feel, and I find it funny 'Funeral for a Friend' played there a few months ago. Anyways, I loved the funky tones the sax's added, and the lead singer has a good voice...

Watched 15mins of the rugby game between Vagabonds (team I've ben training with) and Ramsey. There was an injury whilst I was there, a guy had been carted off with a broken ankle in the first half, and there was a Ramsey player on the sidelines saying ''my knee sounds like a rattle'', and the coach saying ''yeah, it sounds like you have something loose in there''. There was also a 8-10 man fight on the opposite touchline... I left thinking, maybe I'll just stick to football!

Anyways, I may play a little more poker later, other than that, I'm gonna go enjoy another crisp winters day. Crisp winter days are AWESOME!

N-Dog

Argh... Shiver me timbers...

Good to be back for a bit, go to the gym, go to football, go to rugby...I tell a lie, got beasted at rugby circuit training tonight...BEASTED... Esp after so many weeks of inactivity due to work

Our Yeovil work went down a storm. The aquirer loved it, and said in all his years of business, and reading similar reports it was the best one he'd seen... Well suck my hairy meat stick!

Played a live game on Saturday with some ABSOLUTE toffs, at least they sounded like it... They sounded like that double barrelled chicken cook bloke of C4... Anyways, long and short was this... Awful blind structure, but good fun, I came third (of 8) getting it all in AJ v A7 against a massive luck box, and I saw a 7 7 turn, river combo. I'd previously called for a big allin with an up and down str8 flush draw on the flop, with great odds, and plenty behind which if I'd one I would have won for sure. Oh well. After that I finished of 3/4 of a bottle of Morgan Spiced, felt fine, got in the taxi, and it hit me like a brick wall. I had to stop the taxi twice cos I thought I was going to vom. Luckily I kept it in, a number of phone calls I don't remember, and a lack of knowledge how I got home, I wake up the next day wishing I HAD vomed! Monday was worse, and I simply cursed playing poker with people I didn't know so rushing my drinks... I hate shorts... GRRR... Angry with my stoopidity!

I want a MacBook I think, they're so pretty! I rang up Fujitsu-Siemens to see if my broken laptop screen was claimable on insurance... No they say. This is how busy I have been... I have only JUST rang up to do that!

Anyways, by the by, it was a poor laptop, and I thought Vista was rubbish.

I'm gonna bag a Mac I think, a sleek black one... Poker Stars have Mac software, and that's good enough for me,

Went to see a mortgage advisor, said we could borrow £250k with a 10% deposit. So prob look at £300k houses with £50k deposit.

Bad line below? In these situations I like to just call (I know it's weak) in the blinds cos I find you often are not believed if you hit your A, and can often get away cheaper if you do. Roothluss has been a fairly tight player, and not been involved in any hands of note. Also, at this stage I have been fairly loose aggressive at the table, and I believe any raise would get called, and so want to see a cheap flop. On the flop I put him on AK, AQ, AJ, KK, QQ, JJ, 1010 after his call.

After the turn I check as I'm out of position and trying to keep the pot small. Smallish bet indicates to me AQ/QQ, but it's only $10, so I call. The bet of $20 on the river was a blocker bet plain and simple, if he comes over the top, I fold... He does (after a bit of a pause), and I do. I put him AQ/QQ, no other hand is raising me on the river IMO. Little bit peeved though.

PLEASE CAN YOU RATE MY PLAY!!!!

PokerStars Game #22565183195:

Hold'em No Limit ($1/$2) - 2008/12/02 16:24:50 ETTable 'Alkeste II' 6-max Seat

#4 is the button

Seat 1: gczuerich ($62.15 in chips)

Seat 2: Roothluss ($353 in chips)

Seat 3: donkycracker ($263.40 in chips)

Seat 4: Fantatour.dk ($149.70 in chips)

Seat 5: jlost88 ($206 in chips)

Seat 6: HERO ($191.95 in chips) jlost88: posts small blind $1HERO: posts big blind $2*** HOLE CARDS ***Dealt to HERO [As Ks]

gczuerich: folds

Roothluss: raises $4 to $6

donkycracker: folds

Fantatour.dk: folds

jlost88: folds

HERO: calls $4

*** FLOP *** [4s Ah 6d]

HERO: bets $7Roothluss: calls $7

*** TURN *** [4s Ah 6d] [Qd]

HERO: checks Roothluss: bets $10HERO: calls $10*** RIVER *** [4s Ah 6d Qd] [Tc]HERO: bets $20Roothluss: raises $46 to $66

HERO: folds

Uncalled bet ($46) returned to RoothlussRoothluss collected $84 from potRoothluss

Out, N-Dog

credit crunch? what credit crunch?

Good job I've managed to complain to Britz camper vans Australia long enough, and hard enough that they refunded about 10% of our van hire (so they should), as my bonus this year was lower than that of three years ago, when I only worked 6 months, and was in my first year!

times they are a changing

n-dog

ships in the night

Fcuking Yeovil?! Was my first reaction having been told I was going there to work for two weeks on a due diligence project...

This summer since going on study phase for my exams has been manic... Screw it... This year has been...

But since I went on study phase it's been crazy... 4 weeks away in Wales, back for 5 studying my super firm ass off, away for another 4... Mixed in there were weekends in Chester, London, Liverpool, Manchester and the Lake District... Then between mid July and well... late November I'll have worked away for 6 weeks (4 weeks London, and now 2 weeks in frickin YEOVIL!?)... Oh yeah, throw in weekends in Brighton too, and a boys canal boating trip, I firmly appreciate my girlfriends comment, at times we're like ships in the night... Finally 3 weeks in Oz... Holiday though obviously!

I really feel this year has put a massive strain on our relationship, and I'm happy to say at the moment we show no signs of breaking... I love her very much, and this amount of time flitting around has shown me how much so... I just feel better when she is around, she is a great balancing influence on me...

I can't wait till we can just spend time together, and get this crazy crappy away jobs out of the way... Before Christmas I'm also going to Dublin for 3 days... work again, and she's quite possibly going to the Phillipene's!!! (sp) with work...

Just stupid, and I have now started to appreciate our relationship, and just chilling out more than I have before...

I don't think the 'ships in the night' comment was a jab at me, because there's very little I can have done about it, and most of the other trips have been with her... I can but appreciate that frustration now...

Hopefully I'll just blink and it'll be Christmas, and I can get fat and drunk!!!

Oh, and congrats to Obama... The election trail in America sounds almost as tiring as my life since May...

Oh, and C... I know you read this... Well I read your blog, and dude... TAKE IT FECKING EASY!

Peace,

N-Dog

zombie nation

Bond was good, but not good enough... I really enjoyed the film, and I'm not some kill joy who's gonna say it's crap and all... I just... Expected more... The character development I felt just wasn't there. We didn't learn a whole lot more about Bond, and the 'other company'... That's what I loved so much about Casino Royale... Character development...

Still good film, and a lot better than a lot of modern day action films!

Had a quick session this affy, and playing one now. This afternoon was a 750FPP double shootout on Stars. Top 5 paid a Sunday Million ticket ($215). Made the top 5 with chip leader, but cashed the ticket in for tournament credit... Great system.

Down $40 on the current session, getting caught calling with odds preflop and missing on the flop...

Just check raised all in with Ks9s on a 7s8s10c flop... Qs on the turn. Up $35 now...

Nothing mega this weekend... Was at a fancy dress party on Friday, went as 'the living dead'... Good costume even if I do say so myself...

Just been typing up a CV, see what happens job wise, see whats available...

London tomorrow... 6.40 am flight... ACE! I'll be like how I looked on Friday! My All for the corporate dime...

N-Dog

the rage

Argh… The Bond film is getting crap reviews! Nooooooooooooooooooooooo… Bond is my hero… Bond RULES!

After looking fwd to being home for a few weeks, I'm being carted off to London for Monday-Wednesday next week for work, good to see my friends again, but I just can't be arsed with the flights again!

Absolutely knackered today. In my infinite wisdom I thought it'd be a good idea to play 90mins rugby training, then 50mins later 60mins of indoor five aside after a full days work, and not getting in till 6pm… My phobia of not missing out on things, and doing something all the time really kicked in, and although I had good fun… Boy am I tired… (N) Dog tired… I was already stiff after being worked over at 'Studio (insufficient) Strength' at the gym last night… The task master was some muscle freak girl, who lifted heavier weights than me, without stopping, and whilst speaking into her Britney (attached headset) mic… I felt so inadequate...

No poker played, maybe Sunday night.

In other news, I'm going to start commenting on current affairs when I see fit…

1) Ross & Brand - Yes, it was an ill advised gross practical joke that they should publically apologise about, but no one should get sacked, and everyone should just move on.

2) US Presidency - How said is it that American politics is typified by McCain trying to link Obama to terrorists? Politics is rubbish anyway.

3) Credit crunch - If everyone just chilled out, didn't sell all their shares/move their cash/draw their cash/didn't restrict credit then this wouldn't even be an issue. As it is, the business world has and will always be a boom-bust cycle, we've enjoyed the fat times, now it's time to find out who bothered to save for a rainy day. It's the banks fault, and I find it frustrating that the government is bailing them out, I understand people have money tied up in these institutions, but if it was individual business in the private sector, there's no way the government would be bailing them out, it also goes against the free market principle… the strongest survive which is how the world has evolved. My view is those who have indeed put aside for leaner times will be able to capitalise in a major way once everything is settled down, and acquisitions and mergers will pick up again, as there will be bargains and synergies to be had, and the whole process will start again. This is fair. Those who have been prudent will reap the rewards. The global economy needs these problems as a way to regulate itself. It's not a pleasant thing for people stuck at the bottom, but it's unfortunately inevitable and necessary. Those who have lost money through bank deposits are most unfortunate, and I whole heartedly sympathise, but I am talking about the bigger picture.

Best stop now before I get started on political correctness, and civil rights… Suffice to say I'm sick and tired of both, political correctness is so correct now, it's almost incorrect, and civil rights are almost so over the top that you can't get rid of dangerous individuals and deal with general riff-raff correctly, for fear of breaching their ridiculous 'civil liberties'… In my opinion, these d1cks lost their civil rights when they either took away someone elses, broke the law, or did something to require corrective action. We have kids running over teachers who can't so much as tell them off for fear of reprisal, we have murderers and rapists locked in private wings for fear the general prison population may cause them damage… Prisoners on The Rock even have access to Playstations, and flat screen plasma tv's… No wonder these idiots re-offend it's better than their bed sit council house with damp and no heating, so why wouldn't they?! And don't get me started on radical Muslim clerics… Though I believe government are taking steps against these now… Too little too late in my opinion. These now have such a following, and are so used to their precious civil liberties that action just won't work. Yes, these preachers will go underground, and will still exist, they always will, but at least it will make it harder for them!

Ooops...

I'm usually quite bullish in my opinions, and they are opinions, not arguments, I'm just ranting with no support, but it's good to get stuff of your chest. No one should take offence to the above, I'm just some schmuck after all!

(Apparently. Did you know a shmuck (check the sp) is the bit of foreskin chopped off when a Jew gets circumcised? Lovely jubley)

N-Dog

The name's Dog... N-Dog

Played a couple of sessions not much happening, think I've lost about $80 since the last post...

Very difficult to find a few hours to play, as 'C' suggests... Esp as my laptop has decided to break. The screen is completely fcuked, and I have know idea how! It's totally cracked near the bottome, but I can't recall dropping it at any point, and in times gone by I have, and have had no probs, so it'd need to be a noticeable drop... Strange... One of those things. Hope I'll be able to get a replacement or someit as it's under warranty, but dunno if that covers 'drops', or should I say phantom drops... Funny. I always thought it would be the screen that went first... But I always thought it would be when my fist went through it when some nut bar hit a two outer on the river!

Was thinking about what I've done this year... Mainly brought on by looking at the fact I have saved minimal amounts in the last 12 months, when previously I've saved like a Jewish bank...

New Year - New York (5 star hotel)

March - Snowboarding, Val D'Isere

August - Canal boat trip

Sept - 3 week, campervan trip to Australia, via Dubai on the way back

Also included, trips to Liverpool, Manchester, Lake District, Chester, London (several times), Brighton...

I've also completed my exams, and worked by myself, and responsible for a junior in London for a week...

Looking at that lot I can see why I'm a little short, even if I'm wearing t-shirts from 4 years ago, and my girlfriend is having to buy shoes only once a month instead of every week... Oh well. Times are hard.

Planning a mate's stag party in Edinburgh next May, so if anyone has any recommendations let me know...

Next week I'm playing some 5 a side with friends, and will prob try and fit in rugby or some other footy that night. Going to the Comedy Club http://www.hahaheehee.com/ on Thursday, a 'Halloween House Party' on Friday, and Quantum of Solace on Saturday (yes we do have comedy nights, houses, and cinemas on the Isle of Man... as crazy as it sounds!)

I'm so psyched about the new Bond film, I hope it's as good as the last... The scene where they're falling off the roof, and it's shot from above them looks sick...

Anyways... Best sign off,

N-Dog

The Big Smoke

So I've been in London this weekend seeing friends. Kinda looking fwd to going home though. Will be good to see my girlfriend. Kinda a bit weird when I'm so used to seeing her, to not see her in a week.

Have enjoyed my weekend down here though. Apart from the tube ride to Clapham. Peak hour with a case, and the tube is not a pleasant cocktail. I was getting banged around so much on there, I felt like a Soho Ho.

Had a good night Friday at Lost Society in Clapham, seeing some good friends that I haven't seen for a while. Don't think it'd feel as good though if I ever did live in London... I like it people make an effort for me when I'm down. If I ever lived here, it'd just be somewhere else to live. Had some good food at Cha Cha Moon near Canarby St. I thoroughly recommend this place. It's owned by the same guy as Busaba, but it's like £3.50 for a main. It's immense.

Saturday I had some lunch/breakfast with C, and a couple of guys we know. Good to see C. I like to try and keep his media monster head in check when we meet up. He loves it.

As I'm sure he'll write in his blog he actually got punched on Friday... Funny. Funnier that no one else was suprised! It was by some weedy cyclist as well... hahaha, only kidding C'y! Was good to see B that night too.

Then I spent the rest of the day with the guy I went travelling with. We ended up going to the 'Comedy Store', just off Leicester Sq. Quality place.

Played a bit of poker in the mornings while I waited for people to get up. Up a bit, will report back laters.

Today I think I'll go down Oxford St, meet some people for lunch, and maybe play squash. Flight back to 'The Rock' is 7.40pm, though knowing 'FlyMAYbe' it'll prob have the statutory 30mins delay.

How frickin boring is F1!!! Geez...

Ho hum. Back to work tomorrow!

the game is (back) on

So... I've finally managed to put in a nice winning session, in what seems like years...

I played for just under two hours...

I saw about 20-25% hands...

The session was split into two... Both 45-60 mins. On first session I cashed out $240 from a $100 buyin, and the second I cashed out $370 from a $100 buyin. Both games were at $1/$2.

This hand scared the s**t out of me, but I just don't like his line. Essentially I feel he played it too quick. His betting pattern was very quick, which I normally take as bluffs. He's played it like a flush, and I almost dropped the river, but I called like a nail, and was rewarded. I think in reality the odds prob say I need to call the river. His line in the hand is more like trips I feel, and then on the river, I didn't feel trips would bet it. Therefore the only thing he could have is a flush, and I just felt the pot gave me odds to be wrong enough of the time to make the call right.

He had shown he wasn't afraid to mix it up prior to the hand. I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts...?

PokerStars Game #21242240601: Hold'em No Limit ($1/$2) - 2008/10/16 13:07:45 ET
Table 'Kariba II' 6-max Seat #5 is the button
Seat 2: jbeckern6 ($203 in chips)
Seat 3: xXxXxXxXx ($197.05 in chips)
Seat 4: rdog7811 ($391.90 in chips)
Seat 5: GOB_Bluth2 ($200 in chips)
Seat 6: ToTMidiaN ($204 in chips)
ToTMidiaN: posts small blind $1
ofishstix: is sitting out
ofishstix leaves the table
jbeckern6: posts big blind $2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to xXxXxXxXx [Ks Kd]
xXxXxXxXx: raises $5 to $7
rdog7811: folds
GOB_Bluth2: folds
smnrgg81 joins the table at seat #1
ToTMidiaN: folds
jbeckern6: calls $5
*** FLOP *** [6s 2s 7c]
jbeckern6: checks
xXxXxXxXx: bets $8
jbeckern6: raises $19 to $27
xXxXxXxXx: calls $19
*** TURN *** [6s 2s 7c] [6c]
jbeckern6: bets $47
xXxXxXxXx: calls $47
*** RIVER *** [6s 2s 7c 6c] [Ts]
jbeckern6: bets $81
xXxXxXxXx: calls $81
*** SHOW DOWN ***
jbeckern6: shows [5c 5h] (two pair, Sixes and Fives)
xXxXxXxXx: shows [Ks Kd] (two pair, Kings and Sixes)
xXxXxXxXx collected $323 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot $325 | Rake $2
Board [6s 2s 7c 6c Ts]
Seat 2: jbeckern6 (big blind) showed [5c 5h] and lost with two pair, Sixes and Fives
Seat 3: xXxXxXxXx showed [Ks Kd] and won ($323) with two pair, Kings and Sixes
Seat 4: rdog7811 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: GOB_Bluth2 (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: ToTMidiaN (small blind) folded before Flop

Money Matters - It has to make you sweat!

So. This week I’m on a course in Preston. Pretty boring, and Preston's a S**T hole! But it’s allowed me a little time to play poker. Here’s what I’ve learnt this week.

1)

Money Matters

So. This week I’m on a course in Preston. Pretty boring, but it’s allowed me a little time to play poker. Here’s what I’ve learnt this week.

I generally make poor ‘value’ calls. Calls when I figure I’m beat, but also figure I may as well call, under the guise of value. Example.

Very tight guy calls UTG calls BB. I raise mid position to $6 ($1/$2) with JJ. Folded back to UTG. Flat call. I’m thinking AA maybe, more likely suited connectors, small pair. Flop was 10 5 2, 2 clubs. Checks to me. I bet about $14. Quickish flat call. Turn fills the flush. He checks. I check behind, trying to keep the pot small. River is a 6 (non club). He bets out $40 after a fairly lengthy pause. I tank, but eventually call. I’m unsuprised to see 56 for two pair.

This was a very bad call, and I think this call highlights a major leak in my game, that I’ll try and fix. I constantly make bad value calls. This guy is never bluffing here, and the only hand he may have that I beat is J10, QJ, KJ or A10. There is a myriad of hands that beat me, and given the guys line, and previous hands, I don’t figure him for value beating with any of the above. Overall: BAD PLAY

I’ve made a very minor profit this week, but I’ve decided I’m much happier playing at ½, than 0.50/1.00. Players are generally less aggressive, more passive, and tighter. This suits my more loose aggressive game. I like to take lots of stabs at smaller pots, in a more generally small ball approach.

This leads me on to my second major leak: not backing off, when players show strength. This is a basic error, and I’ve cut back on this a lot since my earlier playing days. But it still rears it’s ugly head now and again.

This is the point of my post. Money matters. If you play at stakes you see as fairly trivial then you make poor decisions, I believe. In tournaments I can play really low stakes uber serious, because what matters there to me is the winning. In cash? You can’t win all the chips, which is what I love about tournaments, and therefore I need a higher stake to keep me focussed.

I also think a third leak I have is not making enough of my bigger hands. I think I’m too aggressive, and perhaps don’t let people catch up enough. It’s fairly rare for my big hands to go to a showdown. But maybe this is quite common? Maybe it’s only monsters and mediocre hands that should get to the showdown. Hands where your gtd to be in front, or where you’ve controlled the pot very well. Maybe this isn’t a massive leak, but I do think sometimes I don’t milk the pot enough. And this in itself is a leak.

I just read C’s (A Year in the Life) blog. Dude. How can you have a social life, work, a girlfriend and play a 3-4hr session more than once a week?!

Anyways, see you on the weekend C

N-Dog

tick, tock, tick, tock...

Just the half a year on hiatus...

I've been so busy this summer with exams, holidays, work, and enjoying what good weather we did have I had little time for poker, or this blog...

I have now passed all my ACA exams, which is great cos I don't have to do anymore, but bad, cos I don't think I want to be an accountant!!! Oh well... We'll see what happens!

As I was saying to my 'main man' C (A Year in the Life), I have decided to try and use this blog as a memory aid for myself as to what I have done, and do with my life...

To get a little personal, I have a bit of a phobia of not taking chances, not making the most of my life, not accomplishing anything, and generally just a bit worried of growing up, planning for the future, and generally living an adult life...

I'm getting better, and it's very hard to describe, but I know I've have achieved a great deal in my life, and I'm just scared of standing still basically...

I really enjoy my life I have, with my girlfriend, and the only thorn in my side is my work... which is dull as f**k, and I for one am not someone that can do boring work... I get bored far too easy...

Any ideas people, on what interesting job a newly qualified ACA accountant can do?

Anyways, enough about that...

What I've done this summer... Passed my ACA finals with flying colours, and got a big raise at my work (it's still dull tho!), 3 week holiday to Australia and Dubai, driving from Perth to Broome, visited Brighton, did a couple of weeks work in London

Poker - I went on a massive downswing, and lost all my profit from this year... Therefore my results are, 2006 and 2007 $2,000 net profit in both years (roughly), and 2008 - $0... This will allow me to start over in 2008 I hope... I haven't played really in about 2.5 -3 months

I did, however, play an Isle of Man, £100 freezeout last night, 40 runners, top 6 paid... I'd nursed a small/avg stack all the way thru, and honestly in 6 hrs (inc breaks), I can't remember playing a hand where I made better than top pair all the way thru the hand... Anyways, I find myself on the final table (8 peeps) with 4 good players, 1 decent player, and 2 fish... Of course I had the 4 biggest stacks on my left, all showing previous of mixing it up at any given opportunity... Marvelous...

About 2-3 orbits in, no real action thus far, I have QhJh in the hijack seat (next to cutoff), not wanting to get too involved, I call the BB, with 9BB's behind, weak possibly, but I felt too good to pass, but not worth an all in, given my lack of fold equity when faced with the four biggest stacks behind, who all like to call... With hindsight, I should have just pushed, 10BB's was still a decent bet, and even the weakest of players is gonna be playing tight at this point. My bad... (MISTAKE 1) Anyways, just the SB and BB carry on... Flop, Ks Js 2c... Check, check, I bet 3BB's... SB tanks, and pushes in, BB folds... I have 6BB's behind, and I (for some reason), insta call... I figure him for a draw, or absolute air. Although he'd shown down decent hands in general, I'd seen the guy was capable of bluffs... Anyways... he has a set of twos, and I bow out.

Very disappointed really, because I can honestly say I can't remember playing a hand badly before this one... Bad, bad call...

Anyways, I'm off to a friends house now, and I'm on a course in Preston next week. I'm taking my computer, so I might try to play some poker in the evenings online... Start a fresh...

In London next weekend to see friends...

I did lost $50 this morning, spun it up to $100, then got it in with my overpair J's, to a guys top set 6's on the flop. I should have passed on the flop... My bad again... It's just the odd brain spasm that ends up costing me dear... Ho hum...

I'm alive!!!

Long time no post, just been filthy busy... My poker play has now reduced to 2.8% of my waking hours! According to faithfull pokercharts. Which simply is not good enough!

Reasons for lack of play are as follows,

1) February was a bad month, so my play normally is reduced when running bad. I lost $210 in February.
2) Trip to Vilinus, Lithuania. Went with friends. Was great fun, but only as a stag do/drinking trip. There is litterally no tourism there, and very little to do. Although I really liked the place, had a great time, great atmosphere, and was cool to catch up with a few of the guys I haven't seen so much off lately.
3) Trip to Val D'isere. Wicked snowboarding trip, I used to do a bit of skiing, but snowboarding is so much more fun! Val D'isere is a cool place, but very expensive. I probably rate Val Thorens slightly higher, but was a wicked trip, and two of my friends got engaged on the trip (opposite sexes!). Had a challet host called 'Roland' from Scotland. And my word, that boy was an immense cook. Other than that we were staying with a rubbish London couple and a punky dressed girl, who was 27 and still called her Dad, Daddy...
4) Work - Our busy season has left me with fewer poker playing hours!

Other things,

Requiem for a Dream - Watched this film recently. It is about the trouble with drugs, and is SAVAGE! But also a pretty cool film.
A Better Tomorrow - An 80's Korean film which is about Jap Mafia
Nikon D60 - I bought one of these recently. It's pretty rad, tho I'm not fully sure of it's capabilities yet... It's SOOOO complicated!
£75 freezeout - Played at the gutshot with 'CC' the night before Lithuania. No good. Pushed in with Q10 on a 10 8 x flop, when I knew the guy was strong. I was outplayed. But the tournament structure was AWFUL!

Summary: Anyways, I'm up a shade over $1,500 this year, so thats good. Few other real interesting poker issues, tho I won one of the few AA v KK moments for a $380 pot, which was nice!

Hopefully I'll post more sooner!!!

N-Dog

Top Of The Tree...

I know it's sad, I know it is... But I get so pumped on a MTT final table, whatever the buyin...

I topped another MTT, ok, it was only 51 peeps, and ok, it was only a $7.50 buyin, but that is two MTT wins in about the last two (serious) attempts!

Very psyched in all honesty...

Last month was my first full month at 1/2, and I finished a shade under $1k up, which I was very please about. This month I'm up a shade over $250. I roughly play about 4hrs a week, to give you guys some idea (including MTTs)

I have booked to go to Lithuania with my friends for a few nights in March, and I have some time booked off w/c 17th March to go snowboarding with my girlfriend, and a couple of other mates and their partners. Should be good.

Last week I was working in Wexford, Ireland. It pretty much blew, the amount of wasted time and money on getting us out there for a simple job, that could have been better served by shipping it over to The Rock... I dunno... Rubbish...

Anyways... Me out... Clearly just gloating, sad... But I'm pumped with my poker play right now...

Please, please let it continue!!!

N-Dog

Relief

I somehow managed to get thru my two exams. I was honestly suprised at passing Tax...

I'm now a part qualified ACA... This is not exciting, it was not fist pumping happiness, I put the work in and got my reward, hence the feeling was relief, I'm sure people will relate to the strange emotion. But it is good, because I'm closer to finishing.

Accounting is not exciting.

A question was raised the other week... I was out for dinner with my gf, her brother and his wife... 'Everyone hates there job, it doesn't really matter what you do?'... C, do you hate your job?

I think this is wrong. I don't particular think my job is great right now, but hopefully the qualification I'm working towards will afford me a better choice of more interesting jobs...

Does everyone ultimately not like their job? Obviously, very few people LOVE their jobs, but HATE?!

Hmmm...

Still deciding which camera to get...

I topped a 53 man MTT... Pity it was only a $10 one... But still... Finding my feet in tournies again...

Anyways, peace out brothers...

N-Dog

Focus! For goodness sake FOCUS!

So... I've moved up stakes, and successfully!!!

I'm up $650 this month, and $1050 since I came home from my (shit) exams on 15th December. I'm averaging $45/hr after 14hrs play, including tournaments.

This brings me to my point, I can't focus on tournaments. The fact money is riding on every hand focuses me in a cash game, but in a MTT with 100+ runners, and 3hrs ahead of me, I just can't focus...

Maybe this has to do with the stakes I play MTT's at, compared to my cash stakes. It's strange tho, I used to be a tournament monster, but these days they just leave me frustrated.

I may try a few higher buyin tournies.

Also, I'm looking at buying a new camera (hence focus!). My girlfriend bought me a picture I took travelling for Christmas, it was stretched onto a canvas. It's pretty rad, and it has encouraged me to take more pictures. Not that this was a great photo, but it's encouraged me to take more...

Well... Make up your own minds. It's quite an easy shot to take...



I'm considering a Canon EOS 400D SLR camera body, with a Canon 55-200mm lens. If anyone has any input I'd be grateful.

Finally back to poker. I played C 'the heads up Don' (see 'ex-snowman' link) heads up for a playful $50. I busted him, he rebought, and took the lot. The final $100 pot went something like. I have 99 in the SB, and C raises to $1.75 (0.25/0.50). As per every hand, C either calls or raises. I re-raise to $6.

Flop comes down two spades 8 high, I re-raise C to about $20. He calls. Spade on the turn, I call for my final $14. He flips up A high flush.

Can't remember the details, but basically he got lucky... End off.

N-Dog

A Happy New Year - The Next Step

So a new year, a rare new post, and a new rung on the 'poker ladder'? I said I wouldn't move up to 1/2 till I had a roll of $4,000+. Now that has happened I will be taking $100 shots at the 1/2 level. Despite what my good friend C (http://exsnowman.blogspot.com/) has to say about buying up in short it has served me quite well.

I'm $1,060 up since the start of December (Since I've been using pokercharts, which I recommend, http://www.pokercharts.com/) started using poker chart. And my first two shots at 1/2 have yielded good results, including making it to $565 after losing my first $100 buy in with KQ v AA on a KQx flop, as the board ran out 2 2.

I'm also trying to play some tournies, tho I never seem to have time. I used to be rather decent at tournaments, until I completely diverted attention to cash. I finished 3rd in a $7.50 (YES I KNOW THATS LOW!) 90 man tournie for $80 profit, and was very pleased with my play, which to often in tournaments mirrors my rather loose-aggressive cash style, and has not been working well in tournaments I have played

I spent New Years in New York with my girlfriend, and it was rad. Though I don't think I could live in the city, 3 months of freezing your bollocks of is too much... If you think the UK is cold, believe me, it is NOT!

Highlights - Evenings (NBA, NHL games, Avenue Q and Cirque du Soliel), Ice Skating, Open Top Bus, and of course New Years Eve!

Lowlights - The cold, and Zoom Airlines (THEY ARE COWBOYS!)

The Christmas break was very cool, tho as most I expect I cannot be arsed getting back to work!

Profit for 2007 was about $2,200, with about $350 profit from Vegas. This was accomplished in about 214 hrs (both these figures inc tournaments where a played badly, and took ages, so cash results would provide more positive results).

Hopefully my next step on the poker ladder will provide a greater profit and challenge, as I felt a little bored at 0.50/1.00 where it was rare I was outplayed, and I felt, as Pokerskillz (C's mate) once said... Whatever makes you sweat... 1/2 does that for me... In fact, I need a shower...

N-Dog