We’ve reached midyear 2008 and I’m doing ok.
The good news is that I’m up $75 on Fulltilt. The bad news is that if you count my bonus money earned and my rakeback I’m actually down about $90.
I’m still up about $220 on Pokerstars so that’s not too bad.
As for my live play, it’s been up and down. I’m about break even. My cash winnings have been funding my tournament games so that’s about the only positive I can take from the league.
I played 12 hours of poker on Saturday. It’s the end of the quarter for my poker league so players are trying to get in as many games they can before the quarter ends. The players who are on the bubble for the quarterly finals are playing for the chance to qualify into the quarterly final table (total prize pool is over $600).
I was one of those on the bubble. I managed to finish strong and qualify for the satillite. Players who finish in places 9-18 play in the satillite. The top 2 players from this qualify for the quarterly final table.
Three tourneys were played on Saturday. It was sort of a poker/BBQ party. Each tourney was $25. $20 went into the prize pool. $4 was for knock outs bounties and $1 went to the quarterly prize pool. Each player started out with 6k in chips. The structure was a little fast but it wasn’t a super turbo either.
1st tourney we had 16 players and I wind up being the first person busting out. I get crippled when my A/K runs into KK in the BB. Later on, I bust out when I get A/3 hearts on the BB. 3 limpers are in already. The flop is AA9. I bet, UTG + 1 calls. The turn is a 6. I bet again and UTG + 1 calls. The river is a harmless 4. I check (as I’m suspicious that I could be behind here), UTG + 1 checks also. He shows A/7 to win the pot. At this point I’m short stacked and I bust out soon after.
I manage to take down the 2nd tourney (20 players) for my first tournament win of 2008. I knew I was struggling for most of the year. The only finishes I managed this year were a few 3rd place and 4th place finishes so taking down a tourney after 6 months is a relief. Compared to last year I’ve been really on a bad run. I joined this league in August of 2007 and I managed to win 6 tourneys in 5 months last year. This year I didn’t win my first until June. Go figure. Maybe the players have a tell on me or something. Or maybe they’ve figure my game out. Or maybe I’ve just been plain unlucky. Whatever the reason I’m hoping I can build on this victory.
The 3rd game I managed to finish 5th. This time 5th place gets their money back. I’ll take it…it sure beats losing.
In the end I had a pretty good day of poker. I manage to win $35 in the side cash games. I win $140 for taking down the 2nd tourney. I added 5 bounties for another $20. The 3rd tourney, I won $20 and scored two bounties for another $8.
After 12 + hours of poker, I wind up winning $148 for my efforts. Not too shabby.
I’m hoping that the 2nd half of 2008 will prove to better than the 1st half. So far I’m off to a good start.
July 1, 2008 at 12:15 pm |
Congrats on the tournament win and a nice pay day.
Wish you all the best for the rest of the year, and good luck in you satalite game. For me, I’d like to move up to 5c/10c and be well on my way to building a bankroll large enough for 25NL by the end of the year.
July 2, 2008 at 2:38 am |
Thanks Lucky.
I think you’re on the right track. It’s just a matter of time before you’re playing 25NL.
That is if you can dodge the suckouts…lol.
I’m trying to hang in there. I know I can hang at these levels but I had a bad run for a month that set me back big time and I lost some confidence but I think I can get it back.
Thanks for the support Lucky!
July 2, 2008 at 2:43 am |
Congrats on your first win of ‘08! I’ve been playing a TON on FullTilt actually (as posterchild1). I was playing tourneys exclusively and had some decent paydays that built the bankroll a bit. I’ve since mustered up the courage to play the $1/$2 an $2/$4 cash games and have fared well…very well. Need to make sure it’s not a fluke though. It seemed that once I got past the 5c/10c and 10c/25c games that the bankroll can really grow. At that level, people are sitting down with $200 and by prospecting effectively before sitting at the table, you can pick out who seems most likely and most willing to fork it over. If you take from that guy once and he re-loads, you’ve got a good shot at more. When he/she leaves – you leave. That’s sorta how I’ve been doing it lately. Anyway – gotta get back to some regular work!
I wish you continued success!