The Bankroll Experience

No Input and Bankroll at new low...

2008-03-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

I have been no doubt busy with work, organising a wedding (that I didnt know would be so expensive) and planning a trip to Las Vegas to work for Pokernews during WSOP time, only to notice the bankroll is very fastly slipping away to $0!

I havent played for about 2 months which of course has been pretty slack on my behalf, but I didn't think between the other 2 that the roll would just keep going down. If anything without me playing their is more chance of our monies going up up and up!

Roll is currently at $150 something meaning we have now lost over half of what we have put in after we grabbed a bonus. We have been playing cash but since that has been happening we are going nowhere but downhill!

Im Done

2008-02-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

I fucking quit.........

The difference 1 or 2 cards make on someone's mood and bankroll.
Especially when its the last card.

Im sick of losing constantly on a daily basis to.....
1, 2 and 3 outters.
Gutter balls.
Runner runner dogshit
Miracle cards.....

People that are so far behind they havent even showed up to the race yet........

Theres no way to win. The only way your gonna win anything at poker is if your already rich, sponsorships deals, backers, or if you have a purdy mouth.

Poker is a huge waste of time and energy.
Poker is probably as bad as I imagine herpes being.

As we speak............

2008-02-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

Right now as we speak I'm trying to patch up our bleeding bankroll. Im playing 6handed sngs. I'm pretty fucking disgusted to say the least. Im on my 3rd table with no cashes in the previous 2. The first table I made a bad read I put the guy on a flush draw when he checked raised me on the turn with a 3rd heart didnt hit. I had 33 and he flopped 2 pair with an all rag board...Loss #1. Moving on to the 2nd one...... I won a few small pots early on. The guy on my right made a min raise from the small blind. I called with 10 9 in the big blind since it wasnt that much , and I'd be able to get away and still have chips. Flop comes J K Q. He put out a pussy sized bet that made me think he had a decent hand or he had shit,,,, either way i didnt care because I knew he didnt have A 10. I reraise his min raise, he then came over the top all in. I insta called of course he tabled AA the turn is a blank and the river is a 10!!!!! what a freakin luck box. Im on the 3rd one as we speak, Im the chip leader with about 5k with 4 left everyone has 1500 or less. I should be able to pull this one off to get back to even...............

The downhill continues....

2008-02-25T18:52:00.000-08:00

It looks like the bankroll exp is going downhill at a rapid pace. Today I played a sit and go and some cash and was beaten with a one outer in the cash and played the sit and go on tilt from the cash game. I know I have to control the way I play on tilt but after getting sucked out for a $60 pot on .10 .25 nl with top set against trips it was hard to swallow when he makes quads on the river!!

The roll is fading away and is now to $240.00 but any day now we are expecting our $20 bonus from fulltilt to take us up to $260 approx. Their is another pokernews freeroll for a WSOP seat coming up shortly which may just be what the bankroll exp needs to get started.

Running BAD!

2008-02-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been playing for a while and my team is starting to complain a fair bit, so I thought it's about time I play some cash game. I sat down with $20 on 10c/25c NL HE, cold deck for ages then I start getting hands like KK, AA, QQ, AK and everytime I would run into a bigger pocket pair. Long story short, they put me all-in I call and I got felt! So I re-buy for $20 again hoping that I win the money back but the same thing happened again.

I'm gonna have 2 days off work now, so I'm gonna try and build the bank back up. It's at $310 now. See guys? It's not that bad of a deal that I haven't been playing! LOL! Anyway, wish me luck!

It's Been All Me Baby.............

2008-02-14T05:25:00.000-08:00

Its true I have been on Tilt lately, but not in the context the Donk uses. Although with the big down turn in the last 2 days it probably seems like I have been tilting off our hard earned money....not the case. Each session started off pretty hot. I played 2 tables at once each of those being pretty soft. I was able to pick up dead pots, steal in position, and get paid off with monsters. 3 seperate occasions I capped the pot PF with AA, KK, and JJ. Each time being called and holding up.......easy breezy. I was running so well I almost cracked the $400 mark............Until everything went downhill. Its the same old story get it in with best and come out with the worst. I did do alot of check raising with semi strong hands that were not called so I was able to chip up that way. When I finally got my opponents to put the money in with the worst of it I got unlucky. One example......I had Q 10 off {Ep} the board came Q 10 x rainbow. I checked raised all in and was called by {MP} holding Q Jo......turn is 9 giving him open ended, and the river was a K. Scenarios like that happened through out the next few days wheather I had top pair top kicker they hit 2 pair on the turn or river, or my 2 pair being counterfited. I laugh to myself when I think of the Donk waking up to do a 20 minute sesh before going into work only to shit his pants when he sees how bad I run. For now I'll leave the cash play up to him and I'll stick to what I like best sng's. We only have 100 points before we qualify for the next WSOP freeroll, also something I'll leave up to the Donk. As for the Rock she never loses..........because she never plays.

Looks like the Pro or the Rock (most likely the Pro) has been on TILT

2008-02-13T14:24:00.000-08:00

After blowing one token from the two I decided it was time to play on the other one. It was a struggle and I played very tight and eventually went on to make the money. The top 72 players were paid out of the field of 721. I finished 65th and got $45 for my work. Not a bad day at work although it did take a little over 3 hours of hard work.

After making the money I went and payed some cash where I made another $15. So I took the total of the balance to $385.00.! Not to bad and it looked as though we might make it the $400.00 mark soon. Untilll.......

I went online this morning knowing that we need another 200 points to qualify for the next pokernews WSOP freeroll only to see our balance at only $356.00. A -$29 turn around. I don't think we have had that big a turnaround in a 24 hour period! We await to see the next blog to see what exactly happened....

One token gone and one to play for

2008-02-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

As previously in the last post by the pro I have been running sick bad in poker yet keep coming back for more punishment! Before he left to go back to Vegas I had Aces cracked 6 times in 2 days and he witnessed at least 4 of them.

Yesterday I didn't blow money like it says in his post. I spent $13.20 on trying to win tokens to play $26 events, in which I was successful both times. And while chatting to Dave on msn I looked at any $26 events going on and it just so happened to be a pot limit Omaha Hi $26 event registering with 10min before the start.

I immediately clicked on the register button using one of the $26 tokens and played. I rate myself a better Holdem player than Omaha, but its a game I enjoy and love to play. Whilst in Las Vegas last year covering the WSOP with Dave and the rest of the pokernews crew I played mostly Holdem but every chance Omaha was up I would give it a crack (especially at Binion's - who also ran a nice H.O.R.S.E cash game).

The start of the event couldn't of been any better having nice hands, hitting and getting paid the maximum for them. I got into an absolute monster during the third level of blinds when I ran into the chip leader (on my table and the tournament). I flopped the small end of the straight with a Queen high flush draw so I bet the pot and he raised me! So I thought maybe he has a set or the same straight but I had a re-draw and was willing to go broke on this hand. Before taking just enough time, I re-pot him and he immediately came over the top to put me all in. Already having thought about this exact situation when I re-pot him I instantly called and he showed blank blank top set! I was ahead with the straight and my re-draw flush was good if it hit! The boardblanked out and my straight held up to take the biggest pot of the tournament at the time and lift me to second in chips of the tournament. Thats when it went all wrong!

I have never been in a position like this and normally am at the other side of the stick struggling to stay alive and trying not to be blinded out. I played pretty tight and got all my chips in a few times with draws against a set like the previous paragraph but this time it was opposite. He would either fill up or make quads (which happened twice in 7 hands). I played ok till a lapse in concerntration against a stack similar to me ended my tournament out of the money!

Nothing to show for, but keep plucking away hoping to hit the right notes soon for one big cash....

Looks Like It's Up to Me to Stop the Bleeding

2008-02-11T05:38:00.000-08:00

I woke up around 5pm and was informed by email that we had already busted out. Busted out within the first 15minutes that is. The Donk is running pretty bad these days. So I think its only fair for me to play the next freeroll that we qualify for at the end of the month. The last session I had I managed to get us to $325. Today I checked the account and we were at $312 so it looks like he's running bad in cash games as well. I think he managed to win a few $26 tokens though. I did some low limit multi tabling and got us back to $325 and change. Hopefully when I wake up itll be the same or more, like I said thats what I'm hoping for.
We havent been able to break $350. We came close a few times during my trip but couldnt get anything going. Yesterday was close, I did some multi tabling and managed to get a little over $340, but encounted a plethera of suckouts and lost races. So ended the session at $325 as I mentioned eariler in the post.
The Donk used one of the tokens to play an PLO event. He was doing pretty well fluctuating between 2nd / 3rd in chips. It looked like he was well on his way to the cash but I guess he ran into a combination of bad luck and bad play. Im sure he'll post all his beats he encounted so I'll leave all that for him. So no cash for Team Bankroll in the PLO event.

WSOP Freeroll = BUSTO (Real F#$%KING early)

2008-02-10T15:53:00.000-08:00

As expected I didnt win the seat to the WSOP on FullTilt. But damm I didn't expect to get knocked out really early. Their was approx about 191 players this event with the winner taking a nice $12,500 package to the WSOP. Which included entry to the main event, accomodation and money for travel. These days you can take the cash and don't have to play the main event, and although the cash would be nice if I was lucky enough to win the freeroll no doubt I'd rather play the main event.

It sucked so bad going out within the first 15minutes! Like not even 20 people had been knocked out of the freeroll and I was out. Of course I play badly and get unlucky and blah blah bullshit. But man one break every now and then wouldn't be so bad! This time I was actually happy to loose because my opponent had the best hand when all the money went in preflop but again thats poker and no doubt The Pro and I will be playing some more cash games to get more points for him to play the next WSOP freeroll!

The hand - In short : KK v AA.

The Hand - In Long : Its a pretty tight table even though a lap just passed, I realised this was a great table to pinch a lot of hands. Tight being e.g someone raise everyone folds. I hadn't played a hand except my blinds (twice) and in true honesty their was only 7 players playing (the other 3 were sitting out - not present but registered).

I hadn't seen a real hand till I wake up UTG with pocket Kings. So as usual I pot it, and as expected it gets folded around to the small blind who re-pots me. WOW I wasn't entirely expecting that - maybe a fold or maximum a call but a re-raise had not been done at this table. What made this a WOW factor, was this person was the most aggressive at the time raising every second hand.I mmediately I put him on AK if that, showing very little respect towards his rasie. So I think for a while before pushing all my chips in hoping he has AK or maybe QQ, and an insta call made me think "Oh Shit not AA." Their they were just staring at me, my tournament and shot to make it to Vegas for free was over!

Their will be other chances and Dave might make it happen in a month's time but who know's what the future holds. Im not upset about putting all my chips in and to think the chances of the SB waking up with AA is rare. So as the story and saying goes "THATS POKER."

Back from Aussie

2008-02-08T03:17:00.000-08:00

There were 100 empty seats on the flight back from Melbourne to L.A.. 2 of those empty seats happened to be right next to me!!! That made for a nice little nook for the entire flight(3blankets, 3pillows).I think I watched about 3 movies. Also watched an Aussie sitcom called Summer Heights High, which I got hooked on during my incoming flight. Even with all that comfort I still wasnt able to get one ounce of sleep for the entire flight. I did come close at one point, that is until the crew turned on the lights and started serving breaky. All hope of sleep was lost after that.
I arrived in LA around 8am. Customs didnt even search my bags or run them through the ex ray machine. Which is funny because my bags werent searched or ran upon arrival in Aussie. Both times the agents in Aussie and L.A. said, " go straight and the exit is on the left" Easy enough. I guess asians dont rasie suspisions.
My sister picked me up from McCarran around 11am and we grabbed some starbucks. I ended up staying up till around 8pm, meaning I was up for 31hrs straight. Woke up at midnight. The donk and I took turns racking up our points for the WSOP freeroll on Tilt. He finally had to call it quits, so I took over finished the job and registered. The freeroll is scheduled on the 10th and the donk is gonna go ahead and represent.
Overall Im still out of it and havent left the house yet.

Our aim to shoot for

2008-01-30T15:02:00.000-08:00

Dave and I have been playing long long hours trying to gain our 300 bonus Full Tilt Points to try to play the WSOP freeroll on Feb 10th. Of course the package includes everything with buy-in, flights and accommodation aswell as some spending cash.

In order to qualify we needed to download Full Tilt from pokernews and earn 300 bonus points from the 25 Jan till the 09 Feb. We are well on our way currently having earned 120 points thus far.

Multi-tabling is what we are doing as we speak and it has been some crazy action. Not too much $$$ involved with us playing the .05 - .10 no limit holdem 6 handed with a cap all in of $3. We have sit on all the tables with $6 every time and have not had a losing session so far - touch wood. Losing session being in total. One table has gone busto and the 2 tables have covered and made a little $$$$ on the side.

Things are getting better - roll at about $330 and a little change

Very quick update..........

2008-01-29T15:46:00.000-08:00

Dave has joined me in Melbourne and everything is happening in a way that entirely was not planned. Things have gone smoothly from my end but not so sure about my boy Dave. Im no doubt Dave will update his blog any day soon explaining exactly whats happened with his trip downunder since arriving in Melbourne.

In poker terms things are slowly dropping for the bankroll. Not rapidly and not under our deposit amount. We have our heads just above water and looks like our swings havent been to bad, probably due to the $$$ amount of sit and go games we are playing.

I have sillinging been playing small cash games and have not come out a lot on top. Maybe one session or two but thats about i

Before Dave goes back on the 6th of Feb we in tandem will be trying to make some more money for the bankroll and who knows I might be joining Dave in Las Vegas for his summer during world series of poker.

Giddy Up till next time - hop on board and ride the bankroll train

It's nice here in Melbourne..... no its Melbun......you banana!!!!

2008-01-14T04:09:00.000-08:00

After two days of very little sleep, a four hour delay, a near connection miss, and around 15 -16 hrs of flight time I finally arrived to Melbourne. Havent been able to do any sightseeing yet due to the Aussie Millions but Ive been very impressed with what Ive seen so far. I would highly recommend visiting Australia some time in your life time.

The day after I arrived. I went to work straight away for poker news to help in the floor reporting for the Aussie Millions. So its been nothing but writing and watching poker hands go down for the last 5 or so days. Its great to be part of something so big, and working with the Doctor, and Change 100 again. Also my good buddy Slippers a.k.a "The Donkey" is dealing the tournys as well. So far so good in Melbourne........Updates and stories comming very soon....

More cash for the bankroll with a 6 handed $5.50 sit and go

2008-01-06T17:50:00.000-08:00

It’s been a while since the other two have played – as you can imagine both have hectic schedules and Dave would probably be over the pacific on his way here as we speak. So I took this opportunity to play some 6 handed poker as this was the format where I made some dollars last time.

It takes a whole of 5 minutes for this game to change. When I mean change, I mean two elimination’s and 2 big stacks. I have only played one hand – that being AhKh and stealing the blinds.

I finally get come chips and take my stack to $1840. Of course I win with my signature hand – Ks10h. and very next hand AsQc. It’s being interesting already, we are now 3 handed and I’m the short stack by only $500. Not too bad shape but the biggest advantage to me is I have not been down to a showdown yet. No-one has seen my cards yet and I’m almost thinking the other two are being so aggressive they might actually be on a crash course soon. This will guarantee me some cash if the crash course does take place but I obviously still play to win.

Crash course takes place but the short stack doubles up! Then action happens, and I double up with pocket queens. It’s all in on the flop and I’m very happy with seeing his cards - having only bottom pair and a backdoor flush draw. Blank...blank and I'm very happy to take down the pot.

Less than three hands later again crash course occurs and this time the short stack is out and I’m in the money! When we play heads up I have $2000 and he has the remaining $7000. It eventually occurred that he won but I never gave up and almost got the chip lead had his pocket 5’s hadn’t flopped my pocket 6’s. But as they say that’s poker!

The bankroll is on its way up and now has cracked the $350 mark. I have to be happy with my game now and its time to stick to the 6 handed events for the donkey. Its amazing how much work you don’t have to do to at least make the money in the 6 handed sit and go’s. Although without forgetting the game is looser and has to change a little. Card’s like K 10 and 9 10 don’t look good with a full table but 6 handed or less – are very playable cards.

A New Year and The Pro Coming Down Under For The Aussie Millions

2008-01-02T20:46:00.000-08:00

Well its already 2008 and all the festivities are over. The first major tournament on the poker calender will be the Aussie Millions which will be played down under in Melbourne, Australia. The Rock and Is hometown, and we both will be working at the tournament. If history is to tell a story, the number's for all the tournament's will only get bigger and better.

One of the better things to come from the tournament is 'The Pro' Dave is coming along for the ride. Dave will be in Melbourne to cover the event for Pokernews and it will be the first time since Las Vegas last June/July that Monica and I have seen him. No doubt the beer will be freshly poured throughout the time Dave is here and a lot to catch up will be on the agenda. Although Dave is here till early Feb, who knows what the future holds? Maybe we can keep him here!

Live updates of all the Aussie Millions events will be on Pokernews.com, with most likely Dave giving all the information to either Change100 or the man - the Doctor to blog. We will be providing a little of our own thoughts throughout the millions on our blog but our opinion may not all be about poker!

Obviously all three of us have been busy like anyone else this time of year but blogging on our own tournaments will be happening very soon. We wish everyone the best for the new year and stand by us because their is a vibe going around that the bankroll exp will be going places!

Sweating the rail on the other side of the world.....

2007-12-20T23:13:00.000-08:00

I sweated the donk as he played a sixer. I thought he played well he made some big folds shorthanded that I dont think other ppl would make. Actually I dont know why he coined himself the "Donkey" I got a chance to play live with him over the summer during the WSOP and was impressed with the reads. Im not one for dude on dude compliments cuz thats not how I roll....Anyway zwell played.

I played a HU match a few days ago and got lazy about blogging it. This guy was a total push over. I chipped away at his stack for most of the match raising and betting with nothing. The guy ended up catching a run of good cards and eventually got even. The final hand I have 97 , flop comes 973 rainbow. This is where i messed up cuz i check the flop the turn come Q I check raise he moves AI and I call he shows Q3 and im out. Bummer I havent played on since. As a group were making baby steps. Gotta crawl before you walk, crawl before you walk.

6 handed sit and go for a change - and make some $$$

2007-12-20T21:14:00.001-08:00

It seems no matter what I do on the bankroll experience I never win. I change buy-ins, limits, and players per tourney and can’t make a profit. I have been playing on my own account lately finding I make my money playing 6 handed sit and go’s more than anything else. Why not give it a go on the bankroll exp?

6 handed sit and go’s are a completely different ball game in terms of style of play, what hands can be played and how the action is played. Needing to play looser is better in 6 handed but also wanting to put all the money in with at least 2ND pair is a must. The top 2 in 6 handed sit and go’s get paid. Which is great, with odds at 3-1 to make the money, I favour myself to at least make the money or win it.

I don’t play for a while until I find Jd10d. It is raised pre-flop but in a normal tourney I muck straight away, but 6 handed play changes. There are three of us to the flop. BANG flop comes down with me having the nuts! 7d 8c 9h with no draws. I check to the raiser who leads out for half the pot, telling me he has a big hand and is not scared of the flop at all. I raise just over double trying to keep him in with the other horsey involved mucking and the initial raiser smooth calling. A blank Kc on the turn, and more money in the pot than I have left I immediately push all my chips in and he calls and shows 10c 10s. That’s not too bad knowing full well I can’t loose but can only split. That’s when the repeat 9c comes down on the river and I double up – In the kind words of ‘The Pro’ HOLLA!

Nothing happens for about a round and a half until I am on the button and wake up with pocket rockets!!! Before the action gets to me the short stack pushes all of his chips in costing me $845 to call. I don’t even get the chance to raise before it gets to me but I don’t mind the action before me. I think for a while before just smooth calling hoping for some more fish in the sea but unfortunately everyone folds. He rolls over 8 8 and of course I’m a mile ahead and praying for no 8. Blanks out and I chip up a pot over $1700, increasing my stack to over $3800.

Play is so slow and we are four handed. I haven’t had a hand besides AK and I hit nothing and was forced to fold to a very nice bet. Chip stack is dropping and down too $2800 but still remain chip leader by only a couple of hundred $$$.

We are finally down to 3 handed and play has become very aggressive. I have had to fold AK 4 handed but was correct fold against pocket jacks. I am short stacked now and trying to find a hand ti double up with quickly or hope the two big stacks try to fight it out between each other.

Double up twice with Ace high and a pari of Ace's and knock out the 3rd player making us heads up. The player I'm playing against has by far been the most aggressive player of the lot and tries to push everyone else of pots and fair to him/her they have been the chip leader most of the whole way through the 6 handed tourney. But I know I can catch him if I am patient and aggressive enough when I have the hands to be, knowing full well he will pay me off or try to make a move when I have him dominated.

Last hand I have AQ and have him crippled a couple of times already taking the chip lead and just letting him do all the betting. I have him on the ropes when he pushes me all in after I flop top pair and I insta call, knowing I’m ahead and hoping it will blank out, which it does and the bankroll exp finally makes some money from ‘The Donkey.’

It’s the first time I have done something for the bankroll exp and I’m guessing ill be playing 6 handed sit and go’s until it fails on me. Having ‘The Pro’ watching and railing me definitely helped. Things will change and time for the Donkey to come out of the closet and consistently make money – mark my words!

Roll now at over $347 with a litte change aswell - Giddy Up!

KO... as good as Street Fighter!

2007-12-16T05:52:00.000-08:00

I've been off to Sydney for 5 days, finally back home today and playing a $3.30 Knock Out Double Stack 90 plys tournament, $0.50 for each KO sounds like the right option for my next few hours of entertainment! Cos this is a KO tourney, I'll only be blogging my KO hands, give me all the reasons to be a bit slack! So... hope I'll get to KO a few plys if not there's gonna be nothing to write about! LOL!

I haven't played a hand yet! Now up to the 6th level of blinds 50/100, I'm the SB, PicassoPoker [utg] raises to $400, 2 callers, the Button re-raises All-in for $3520, I'm All-in too with Kh Ks, PicassoPoker calls and it leaves us 3 to the pot. PicassoPoker shows Jd Js but the Button shows Qs 4h, that's a beau-ti-ful! Board: 7d Ac 9s Ad 8c, so lucky for me having pocket Kings on such a board when no-one had the Ace! Too bad for pocket Jacks and I earned $0.50 for KO PicassoPoker out! $8895 in chips now.

Now at $10595, I haven't played a hand for a while! Blinds are now 200/400 with ante 50. 3 plys ahead of me folded, I raised the pot amount of $1800 with Qs Qh, no callers, up to the BB sn00py_14 raises to 3785 and is all-in, I call. BB shows Qc Kh, holding 1 of my outs plus an over-card! Board: 3c Ah 2h 6c Ad, such a similar board as above but both times no-one had an Ace so ship it and I also earned another 50c for KO sn00py_14! 7th in chips with $14000, 1st has $27000, 27 plys remaining after 1hr of play and we are now on a 4mins Break!

400/800 19plys left, getting blinded out, haven't played a hand for 3 levels now down to $10000, managed to steal some pots so back to $14000! 18ply now, 2 tables! Hand for Hand now with 11 plys left, been quite lucky have $32000 3rd in chips now. H for H for like 3 levels, which was really good for me cos it slows down the number of hands being dealt. Final Table now which means I've already made the $$$. After like 10-15 mins, I got KO and came 5th winning $18 plus $1 for 2 KO, so a total of $19 to our account! A great experience, KO is very exciting!

WPBT weekend.....

2007-12-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I was very fortunate to be able to attend a fews days of the WPBT, here in Las Vegas. I got outta work around 7pm Thurs. night, and made my way to MGM around 9pm. As I walked through the casino floor to the poker room I was a little nervous / anxious being that this is my first WPBT and Im a newbie to the blogging world. I left a message to Dr. Pauly as I waited for my 1-2 table. 5 minutes after being sat I was excited to see the Doctor spotting me as he walked through the room. From there we strolled over to the bar in the sports book and he introduced me to a slew of well known poker bloggers such as his brother Derek, Maudie, Iggy, Otis, Jen Leo. We had a great time socializing with everyone, I was able to catch up with Change 100, and Mene Gene. A few hours later the Doctor, Change 100, Mene Gene, and my self among other made our way down to the Excalibur where we continued to drink talk about this past years WSOP which we were all a part of, and make o/u bets on the cowboys roping calfs. I finally ended my night busting out at the pai gow table with the same company from the bar. Again big shout out to Dr. Pauly for making an outsider feel welcomed.
I look foward to working with you guys down at the Aussie Millions next month.

$3+$.30 KO 90 player sit and go - No good again!

2007-12-10T05:57:00.000-08:00

So this isn't what I normally play but it looked fun and interesting. I have never played a KO (Knockout) tournament and it seemed appealing. Basically from the original buy in of $3.00 - $2.50 is put towards the pool and the remaining $.50 is a bounty on every player. So each player you knockout you get $.50. To me this means if I don't make the money but still manage to knock out 6 players I make a total of $.30. In a broader scale, you can still make money without actually making the money!

Play has been going for 25 minutes and not much to explain really. I have already been lucky enough to have pockets rockets but no action and also a few other stolen pots have me sitting at $3115, which is only $115 more than starting stack but in saying that the field is already down to 60 players (30% deduction).

I don't end up lasting too long and eventually get eliminated in 47th place - no knockouts, profit and no money. The last hand is below but the explaining is what ill do now. I of course have pocket Jack's (also known as a bad pocket pair to some). And before the action gets to me its raised to $480 and called by someone else, I don't want to go broke and risk all my chips in a race so I smooth call leaving me $2,200. I could have folded preflop after someone else has already called but like I said, don't want to risk all my chips preflop unless I have pocket Kings or Queens.

Flop comes down 5h 3c 5s - beautiful I think to myself. The initial raiser bets out a bet of $960 and the caller folds with action no on me. I think "I can't call here, must raise or fold." I already had this person on AK preflop and the bet is a little weak for my liking, so I push = WRONG!!!

Kiara 79 immediately calls and shows Queens. Ouch - no improvement and I'm out.

Roll now stands at :

Thanks to ... a Great Deal!

2007-12-07T05:32:00.000-08:00

Day off today so heaps of time and energy to sit around and play a decent tournament, which means I've got my eyes on the $5.50 45 plys. I know it's a bit of a high stake game for our little Bankroll but my friend and I made a 50% deal so I'm fully insured!

While blinds are still 15/30, my 1st hand was Qh 8h, I don't usually play these hands but in the SB it's not too bad especially with only 3 plys left to the pot. Flop: 9d Ts Jh. Giddy up! Flopped the 2nd nut Straight on a rainbow flop, I bet the pot of $90 and they both called to see the turn. Turn: 9c, pot bet of 360 and no-one wants to pay to see the river.

20 mins gone, played a few hands and winning small pots but, we've already lost 15 plys! Chip count of $1650 compared to the average of $3200, need some magic cards! Down to $1290 after paying the blinds. 80/160 Qd Qh in LP with 2 callers ahead of me, I didn't want to slow play and let the Aces limp in, I moved all-in for $1290. It's a massive pot with 4 plys all-in! angelways0630 shows Jh Kd, Spike880 shows Ts Th and bodiedog 1 shows Kh Ah. Not much chances for the Kings or 10s but any Ace and I'm gone, so no Ace! Flop: Jd 8s As. Damn Ace! Queen, just a Queen will do! Turn: 3d. River: 4s! The worst part is I'm still in with $135 left!

This should be my last hand unless I win! Kh 6h in SB with 3 other plys in the pot. Flop: 4d 7h Ah, I'm all-in with 2 other callers. Turn: Kc. River: Ad. No Flush... I'm out!

Hope my partner in crime will do well. After like an hour I finally got my reward, she managed to win the heads up game that lasted 20mins and won $85.50. So I got my share and $42.75 is credited to Bankroll Exp!

Double Stack... Rapid Stack!

2007-12-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

1st time ever, I decided to play a Double Stack $1.25 90 Plys SnG, just for the taste of it! Starting with 3K in chips, feels goooood! 5 mins into the game on 15/30 I've got Qd 10d on the button, the 2nd player to act B-townGrinder raises to $75, with 4 callers ahead of me - I have to call for... "the Value"! Flop: 8d Ad 5c, B-townGrinder bets $240, HamboneK38 raises to 2,760, and is all in, the rest folds; I think for a while n would like to gamble for a flush, are now heads up. HamboneK38 shows Ks Ac, I desperately need a diamond to win. Turn: 4h n River: 5s, busted flush draw n now I'm crippled to $165.

With only $165 left, I really need to get lucky n double up, triple up, quad-triple up... 3 hands later I get very lucky with Kh Ks. 20/40 Priobui raises to $160, I move all-in for a whopping $165, HamboneK38 calls n Priobui is not going nowhere with an extra $5 to call. Flop: Jd 8d 2h, with an over pair I'm thinking "Gold", check to the turn. Check? Wow, I'm winning for sure! Turn: 9c, Priobui bets $200 n Hambone folds. Priobui shows 8c 8h, "Arggggghh" slow play his set on the Flop, gave me false hopes that I'm way ahead! King! All I need is a King! River: 6s. Oh well... I'm out n I thought I just "got lucky". At least it was an easy cheap game, only wasted 10-15 mins of my poker life.

Current bankroll is $294.35. Off to bed now will play another 1 tomorrow n hopefully I'll manage to make some "CASH".

Another sit and go - and go quickly!!!

2007-12-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

After a long break away we meet again and this time at a $2+.025 single table sit and go. Nothing funny about this one, meaning no turbo tonight. I must apologize for my lack of action with the bankroll experience team as I have not had time to be on the net to play and have been flat out with business as well as leisure. To put it simply I have been a little slack shall we say.

Anyway back to the game. A full orbit and not a hand to be played. Both my blinds have been raised meaning I haven’t seen a flop with cards to play with. Just hanging low and seeing what the field is like whilst the blinds are still small. No-one eliminated yet and to be honest already get the feel that this is a tight table!

Wait wait and wait and I finally pick up AK off suit. I raise it up (pot bet) and get called by the BB (big blind) Flop comes down rags and he bets out $180. I thought for a while and it smelt a little fishy so I call with nothing but two over’s and a runner runner straight draw. The turn is checked and he checks again on the river when I decide its time to take this pot down and make a $600 bet into a $900 pot. I don’t believe he has anything and presumed he quickly mucks and I take down my first pot of the game. We are down to 8 players and I’m standing at $1770 – 5th in chips.

5 handed and yet again find myself in the familiar position of being the short stack. Been playing 5 handed for about 20 minutes and nothing is changing. Chips are getting passed around left, right and centre of me – just not in my direction.

After not playing a hand and trying to pinch and losing I manage to do the usual and finish 4th again! Final hand was J 4 off suit in the BB with the SM limping in with only pocket Aces. Flop is Jack high and s/he checks to me and I move all in with not much behind me and s/he insta calls and I'm finished!!!

Roll is dropping ever so slowly

3rd place

2007-11-28T20:02:00.001-08:00

The last 10 days Ive had zero time to play any poker what so ever, live or online. Yesterday I finally had a day so I went ahead and played a $1 sng. When I go long periods of time without any poker I come back playing ABC. That was supposed to be my plan comming into this SNG. In the begining of the SNG I was back and forth between the the comp screen and the TV screen. Until I noticed the player on my left being super aggresive PF and Post Flop. The 1st hand i play is against him. I tried to outplay him outta position with a weak hand, and I ended up being outplayed, I was left with only 800 in my stack. A few hands later I picked up KK in the sb, I went ahead and just limped knowing he would raise outta the bb, and that exactly what he did. I ended up doubling up to even with my KK by letting him do all the betting and rasing.

I won a good amount of the hands I was involved with this guy with top pair weak kicker and middle pairs or just betting him outta the hand.

I managed to make it to the money by picking up small pots. I also got some help from the guy on my left as he knocked out the majority of the table. Before I knew it was short stack doubled up a few times by hitting the river but couldnt get anything goin. Finally got knock out with a garbage hand by another garbage hand.

Rolls at 297 and change

Back In Vegas

2007-11-18T20:32:00.000-08:00

This time around I opted to play a heads up match, instead of a SNG/MTT. After a long work week filled with "heaps" of overtime I figured it would be easier for me to focus on just one player. My opponent in this paticular match was somewhat aggresive PF, he did alot of min raising PF. I chipped away at his stack little by little by calling alot of his PF min raises regardless of my holdings and trying to outplay afterwards (which worked through out the match). I felt I had a good read on him. This match didnt last too long less than 20 hands I think. This paticular hand he actually limped in PF. He checks the flop to me and I bet, turn comes we both check. Then he bluffs the river with a pot bet, I'm too dumb to fold I call I win. And yes I was holding 8 5 off and he was holding 3 6 off.

Not alot of fireworks after that hand. I resumed my play earlier of chipping away small ball style. Here comes the last hand. Since these caps are such poor quality he's holding ? ? and I have Qc 10h

( You guys can tell the flop). We both check this flop. Bets the turn I call. I spike the Q on the river I make a pot size bet he reraises all in. Not what I wanted to see, but I figure if I call and lose we'll be back to where we started. So I make the call and pleasantly suprised when I see 7c 7s.

Bankroll = 297.30

A Long Long Wait...

2007-11-16T06:50:00.000-08:00

After I lost the previous SnG, I played another one cos my buddy mucklare insisted that I play another one. $1.25 45 players again, cos it's getting late and I don't have to play it too seriously. It's level 6 now 50/100 and I still haven't played a hand yet, lost most of my chips to blinds and I finally have AsJc in BB with 2 callers in the pot until it got to the Button and he/she goes all-in for more than my chip stack [at $1125]. I reckon I had spent enough of my time waiting now so... and the Button makes a move... OK, I call and I'm all-in too. The other 2 callers folded. The Button shows 9d9h, I still have a chance with 2 over cards! Let's see the board... 5s 9c Qh Qc 3s! I played only 1 hand out of preference and I'm done... it's 1:20am now, I'm off to bed. Hope I don't dream of poker while I'm asleep! Bankroll account: $295.45.

Folded to the Final Table...

2007-11-16T06:46:00.000-08:00

Had a few complaints that I haven't been playing "regularly" lately, I decided to play a $1.25 45 players again [cos I won last time] with my buddy mucklare. Didn't play a hand until the 2nd level 20/40 with $1545 in chips [oh! I had a few "walks"] JdJc in the CO, with only the Blinds in the pot I raised it to $245, SB calls and BB folds. Flop: Qh 9d 4c, SB checks and I bet $530; calls. Turn: 9c, SB checks so I'm all-in for $770; SB calls and is all-in for $610. SB shows AdJs... no idea what aoldsoul is calling for [?]. River: Ks, it's all in my favour and I actually knocked a player out too! $2950 in chips now!

Lost 16 players in 22 mins, I had 3 pocket pairs in a row; KK, 77 and 44 but had no action so nothing interesting to blog about. Blinds are now 40/80 with KcJd in SB, no callers... up to me I call and we see a flop: 6d 4s Jh. I bet $160 BB smooth calls. Turn: Ac, the scary Ace hits the board and I check, BB bets $80; too cheap for me to fold! River: 5d, again I check, BB bets $240 which makes it somehow "fishy"... I think for a few secs and I call! Great call cos BB rolls over 5s2c. Ship it!!! $3175 now!

60/120 with 22 left! $2625 in chips now which is below the average stack! 45 mins into the game now with 19 plys left... 50 mins 14 left... 51 mins 12 left... Getting such "cold deck" that I've got nothing better to do than checking how many players are left! 120/240 $1885 I desperately need a lot of help now! 10 plys left, playing short handed now, only 5 plys and they just sat down 2 of the massive chip leaders onto my table [what kind of help is that???]. Geez! After being bullied by the Chip Leaders I still managed to make the Final Table with $1165! Not a bad effort [I tell myself]!

On a 4 mins Break, I quickly clicked the "I'm Back" button cos I wanna quickly finish this game off but I must be the only one cos the Break still took 4 mins! 150/300 I lasted another level, 200/400 now I'm so short stack now after being blinded off $665. AdJc in my BB, the next ply UTG just lost a massive pot and now goes all-in for $3626, everyone folded except for me! Well it only cost me $265 to call and with AdJc I'm in for sure! The raiser shows AhKh! I need a Jack!!! Board: 4h Qc 7d 8h 3d, no Jack!

If only I had a few more chips, I'll be able to just fold my way to the $$$ but with the shortest chip stack at the table... it's was just too hard! The worst part is I came 7th, yep... I just "bubbled"! Bankroll account: $296.70. There's always a next time!

Another Tourny Another Loss

2007-11-11T09:27:00.000-08:00

Seems like the team as a whole is on a slump lately, (with the exception of The Rock taking down the 45 person sng). My slump can be attributed to just plain old bad play and decision making. I think being stuck in training all day, and dreading going back to work in Vegas is taking away from my concentration when I do get a chance to play. My plan of attack is to just step away and take a break from playing. I'll wait to get back to Vegas let things smooth over at work and try to get into some kind of normal schedule again. Hopefully doing this will result in a turn around.

Peace

Another non-finish and the bankroll slipping away

2007-11-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

Let’s try our luck at another $2+.25 no-limit hold em single table sit and go. No turbo again and time to build some money damn it.

5 minutes into the tournament and I haven’t played a hand yet but we have lost 3 player’s leaving us with a total of 6 remaining. There are a few people that have already doubled up and it’s fair to say this is the craziest sit and go I have played so far. I am of course the short stack and still have not played a hand besides the blinds.

Limits have gone up to 25/50 with 6 players till fighting it out with me included. I have only $985 left and am dying for a double up in a hurry! On double up would put me third in chips. Yep, meaning two players have plenty of chips and are bullying the table like they should when they are the big stacks.

For the first time since playing online poker I have seen someone (last person to act) check the nuts on the river. Now I am not aware of the rules ate Full Tilt Poker but am pretty sure at the WSOP if your last to act and you check the absolute nuts, like Jeff1987 did in the sit and go I’m playing, you get a penalty! Not only is it stupid not to try to get money from the other player’s involved in the hand by betting but it also open’s the door to collusion. It also speeds up the game and we move on to the next hand….

Out in 6th place without playing more than 5 hands throughout the tournament, besides the blinds. The hand is below but this is how the action went down. I am in the big blind with only $450 behind me. The blinds are 60/120 so I have over ¼ of my stack invested before I get cards. The only player that has been caught stealing, raises from the button and I look down at Q J. I think for a while before making the call knowing that if I hit I win and he is probably ahead of me preflop anyway but its time to gamble and when his cards roll over I am happy we are racing. He has only one over card and both mine are live. He flops an ace and its goodbye charlie for me.

Another dismal effort with not even a placing to show for it. Maybe Omaha single table sit and go is better for me?

2 Hands

2007-11-06T18:54:00.000-08:00

I played two hands. 1st hand not worth talking about. I min raise 1caller in front of me. All in after the flop I fold. Last hand blinds are high, I'm shortstacked I move in with QJ on the button BB calls with KQ awesome....... we're at $302.45 peace out.

No turbo but same result!

2007-11-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

After no luck or really bad play (which ever way you see it) I decide turbo is not for me and not good for the bankroll. So I decided it may be time to take a stance and just play a normal (not turbo) sit and go and see if the results are better off.

I take my seat at the $2+.025 sit and go and try to think of a strategy at the start to see what I can do and who may be the easiest to pick on etc etc. We have played a total of three hands and so far I have had nothing but have noticed a lot of action already. Pre-flop raises, check raising, big bets and wonder what’s the easiest and sneakiest way of avoiding this without getting my fingers stuck in the cookie jar? My answer is probably be aggressive to a certain extent. Not like a turbo where you can sit and wait for hands and hope for the best.

Ok so my first hand I play is Qc5c and I know what your thinking why play this hand? I’m the big blind and nobody has raised preflop so I naturally check and we see a flop. The board is below but you can see what I have when the flop comes down (a gutser straight as well as a flush draw).

Obviously I wouldn’t be staying in the hand if I thought neither were good. I know my flush is good and gambling that if the straight comes I win as well. This is why position at the table is so important! I am first to speak (worst position after the flop) I could easily lead out but there are still 3 other players to the flop and I don’t believe I have the best hand yet and wouldn’t have a clue on what they have. I end up losing most of my stack to jdesq who bets every street and of course nothing of mine came and we are down to a whopping $730!

Lucky not a turbo otherwise it was already time to make a move but with this being a normal sit and go I have all the time in the world to pick my spots and wait for hands. The blinds are slowly going up and only presently at $25-$50, which for me is still nice and cheap. Overall it has been thus far a tight table which is ok to try to pinch pots and steal blinds but its hard as a decent size raise for my chip stack is pretty much committing me to the pot!

A good few hands later I find myself with KhJh in early position. My options are either to raise or call, I can’t see myself folding. I smooth call hoping to see a free flop cheaply. It gets to the button and s/he makes it another $90 to call preflop. 3 other callers so now I have value and call hoping to maybe push on the flop. The flop comes down 9sAh7h. Beautiful, nut flush draw with plenty of promise. I check and so does everyone else till it gets the button who bets the pot which would put me all in. I have 2.5-1 pot odds to call with nothing but a gamble and I make the call. He shows A J, and I’m needing to hit the heart. Turn brings 3d, no luck and the river comes the 4h! BANG ship it too bankroll exp. It was a great example of a gamble paying off. It differs if I’m chip leader and make this play but as I’m the short stack at the time with nothing to lose and everything to gain with great pot odds, I believe it’s a call that should be made. Chip update = 1680 with blinds at $50-$100.

Now 5 handed and again I’m the short stack. Have only played 2 hands the entire tournament with seeing a flop and from memory have pinched 2 blinds. Its becoming a lot more aggressive the more we lose players and it’s now vital which spots to pick, otherwise out the door very quickly!

30 minutes later and major short stack I finally find something, on the button, Ah6h. Not a great hand but folded around to me so I raise knowing full well the table knows how tight I have been playing. The SB folds and the BB re-raises me. I call knowing I need to hit a draw or the ace. Flop comes down with an ace and I have not much behind me, and he shoves! He shoves when I have hit my pair. This guy is the second short stack and he makes a move on me with this. So I instant call and he shows me A 9. I’m out and again nothing but a nice waste of 50 mins to show for it.

Well done chump you win and knock me out. But that’s not what bothers me, it’s the table image I worked on before all this and to see it get used is terrible. I don’t understand how he didn’t put me on a bigger ace pre flop or a pair or anything that would dominate A 9! Whining and kicking a fuss is no good and its not always good to loose your cool over poker but its amazes me how the second short stack would make a move like that, and it also shows that showing a tight image is not always a winning way. Maybe I’m in great need of changing my game or making more moves.

Currently after losing more money to Full Tilt Poker the account balance is:

2 Hours of Hard Work

2007-11-04T21:23:00.000-08:00

Was gonna play a $2.25 18 plys but the wait was just too long, so I played the $1.25 45 plys instead! My 1st playable hand was K10h in BB, UTG raises to 80, 2 callers then the SB re-raises to 120... so there's value in the pot and K10h [suited] looks pretty good so I call and everyone else just calls too! Flop: Qh Ac 3h. SB bets 40 with 4 callers! My hand is looking very good! Turn: Jd. SB bets 40 again, I had to raise it now to 500, UTG re-raises to 1000, magpie71 [who has been very quiet] re-raises all-in for 1190, so I might as well go all-in too for 1265 and gurken [UTG] calls! I've got the nut straight with a flush draw too... so I'm not worried! River: 5s!

After all the action, I managed to build my chip stack up to 2300 but my buddy would be very proud cos I played K10 just for him! As he always says "K10 the BEST" well... this time it is!

15 mins into the game, lost 10 plys and I've only played 1 hand! Blinds 25/50, I played AcJs, no pre-plop raise so 4 runners in. Flop: 5hAdJd, BB checks, RZIENTAK bets 150, I raised the pot to 675, KAMAGUTA calls, BB folds and back to RZIENTAK... calls! Turn: 9s, RZIENTAK checks, I went all-in 1630, KAMAGUTA calls and RZIENTAK folds. KAMAGUTA shows 89d. River: 5c! Beautiful! Busted flush draw, ship the 5510 pot this way! Which also makes me Chip Leader!

Blinds are now 50/100, they also moved the Chip Leader [yeah, i'm now 2nd] monkey5050 with 7574 to my table. I'm in the CO with QdQs, DroghyStyle raises all-in 1535, I re-raise all-in [to kick the rest out] 7385, kmart_kowboy calls all-in 1435. DroghyStyle shows KsAh and kmart_kowboy 4d4c! Board was: 7d 8d As Th Kc. It made a dint to my chip stack, I'm now down to 5850!

10 minutes of Cold Deck! Blinds 80/160, KdJd in the SB. Everyone folds, so I decided to bully the BB and raised the pot to 480, BB re-raises all-in for 975! Bad timing to bully but now I have to call. Sharkblack shows AsKc, is ahead of me unless.... I get lucky!

Which I did! I flopped a King high Flush and the 4d on the river was no help for Sharkblack! Gotta get lucky sometimes. 6485 2nd in Chips with 18 plys left!

Almost an hour of play now, 15 plys left. 250/500, KdKs in BB, no-one is in except for SB who calls, so I raised to 1500. Must seem like I'm a bully cos SB calls [with an amazing hand]. Flop: 5d4hJh, no Aces so my Kings looks good. SB checks, didn't wanna slow play incase an Ace appears so I bet 1000. SB check-raises and goes all-in for 4685, what? Well... I have to call! DroghyStyle shows 69d [nice bluff but bad timing].

A massive pot of 12370 comes my way but the best part was having The Pro as a supporter who wrote "Holla" on the chatboard when he saw 69d being shown! LOL! 90 minutes now, down to 6 plys, haven't played for a while, pretty much folded to the $$$ cos 6 places gets paid. 800/1600 with 16801, with AhQc UTG i raised the pot 5600, have 1 customer, the BB but... BB goes all-in 19193! Mmm... I really feel lucky with this hand so I call! BB - thebige263 shows 7s 7c, 2 over cards for me and I do feel lucky too!

My lucky day, I managed to river the nut Straight and knock a ply out too! 4 left with me in the lead with 34402 and 2nd only at 12100. I can just sit back n relax now! Down to 3 now, still at 800/1600; Jc6h in BB. SB calls and I check. Flop: 7d9c5h, check to the turn. Turn: 8s, which gives me a Straight to the 9, SB checks so I bet 3200. SB check-raises all-in 29114, I instant call! SB shows 69s, Oh... another split pot! Well we still need to see the River: 10h! Oops! Sorry but it just gave me the Straight to the Jack!

Heads Up now with 59204 in chips and the other with 6K! Was a very quick Heads Up game! 1000/2000, Kh9s in BB. Monkey5050 raises all-in 12296 with 9c5s, I call. Board reads: Qh Qc 6d 9d Td. I won the the $1.25 45 plys SnG with a pair of 9 King kicker! 2 hours of play now tops up $17.10 which brings our account to $306.95!

No result again - no luck or no good?

2007-11-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

OK so here we are after being extremely busy with work (getting engaged, blah blah) its time to get back onto the scene and make some money and updates for the bankroll experience! I'm back onto the turbo sit and go and playing the $2.20 single table, top 3 get paid.

Haven’t had a hand since I have been at the table and am down to $1370 in chips purely losing money for the blinds. But as the theory suggests we are already one player down and limits are up twice to 30/60 blinds. I am currently 3rd last in chips but what makes these turbo sit and go’s really good is just waiting to double up once or twice throughout and you should still make the money!

Being the Donkey I am, not getting hands for me is a huge lack of impatience, something my fellow bankroll companions are very good at attaining. I finally get a bad hand to play ON THE BUTTON (as if it matters – like any 2 cards that are suited) and play it just as bad as I could as the other player flopped the nuts (K10) and silly old me just top pair with the weakest kicker as you can see below.

I amaze myself sometimes in leaving chips to play with and not stupidly losing the lot on that hand. Pecking away still managing to steal pots with nothing behind to back me up I end up doubling up on pocket rockets, and can’t even get the print screen to work to show you because I'm too excited – that’s probably the bad beat of the day!

I than sit back and relax and watch people knock each other out which amuses me as I’m the short stack with nothing left and still climb up to top 4. That’s where it all went pear shape. Still of course the short stack and blinds are starting to slowly kill me till I look down at As Ks beautiful I say and shove all my last money into the pot (which is approx 3 times the big blind). Small blind calls and I’m thinking ‘please just don’t pick up a hand – one time.” Bang he has pocket 8’s. To me its ok we are off to the races and if I manage to double up here I'm a good show to make the money at least. Unfortunately for me the 8 8 hold up and we are out on the bubble. It’s a vast improvement on my last sit and go but nothing to show for it and if you don’t have results behind you, you can’t prove nothing.

So the story ends in me donating to the full tilt sit and go crew another unhappy customer, ready to take it out next time. Why is there always next time and not now?

No Good

2007-11-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

It's the weekend again, I decided to go ahead and rent a car to make the 4 hr drive back up to Michigan to escape being couped up in a hotel room all weekend. So it's about midnight I cruised over to a buds house to play a sng. Heres how it went down.

The tables very loose with a ton of all in orgies. I decide to sit back wait and pick my spots.

1st hand I decide to play is Qd 10h in the C.O. Blinds are still small maybe like 25-50 or 50-100?

PF :

CO I min raise

SB calls

Flop : 7d Ad 4s

SB comes out firing a week bet so I smooth call. My thought is hopefully he'll check the turn and I'll steal the pot right there.

Turn: Jd

SB comes out with another weak bet I just go ahead and smooth call for some reason (now that i think about it maybe I should have came over top) I was distracted in a conversation while drinking.

River: 10d -nice!

SB bets out like 320 in a pot that 1k+ I didnt he had the K so i reraise a bit he goes into the tank then folds.

After that hand that was pretty much it. The table went into all in orgy mode and i couldnt pick any good spots. I got blinded down and got put into push fold mode.

My last hand I pick up K8 only to be called by K9 with the flop putting an 8 and then the 9 ball.

(I gotta figure out how to place these screen caps)

The Holdem House

2007-10-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

Just like the Donkey I too have been very busy on the other side of the planet. My job has sent me out to Ohio for 3 weeks with 1 day notice while my laptop takes a shit on me....nice. I think I'll hit a Wal Mart and buy a cheap one to hold me over. The training makes me think of a mixture of a bad Dockers commercial and boot camp. Every moring there is around 30 or 40 business casual dudes in the lobby to be shipped off to head quarters for day. I arrived wed. night went to class thurs. and sucked out into having a 3 day weekend. So I did what any normal person would do, I rented a car and escaped 4hrs away back to Flint. I get back into Flint around 630pm by 8pm im at the Holdem House.
The Holdem House is room that many of my friends frequent, although Ive never been there its really close to my house. Comming from vegas i wasnt impressed at all, it was actually kinda gross but they made good attempts to be hospitable (food, drinks, ect.) It wasnt that big maybe 4 tables, it was way way way way too smoky inside with no ventilation, and the dealer had the worst mechanics ever in life or any other life. Ok its a 2-4 nl game ive only made around $40 then i get cold decked for like 2hrs. Finally i limp in lp with Qd 10d 3way ...blinds, me. Flop - Q J rag two spades. Small blind (dead money) is all in not for much, bb (donkey) makes is $34 to go. Putting him on spades I flat call. Turn comes 5h blank. the donkey checks. I study him for like 2seconds knowing he missed, i push all in for $60. The way hes handling his chips i know hes on spades , after like 10sec he calls reluctantly. SB has J 6 , BB has 7 6 Spades!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what the hell?? and of course my Q 10 doesnt hold up when a spade comes up on the river. My buddy says to the guy .."How do u call that?"

Tilting slowly....

2007-10-24T05:03:00.000-07:00

Been busy with yada yada yada and haven’t had time to blog for a little while but all is not lost – I manage to have some kind of a life so like I promised I will play now a little.

I register for a lovely and comfortable $1+.25 - 45 player sit and go. Thinking it would be good to test my skills and maybe push with drawing hands to see if bullying is a good option here and I feel like gambling a little. I register for the tourney only for my internet connection to bale out on me before I have even received cards = bad beat and already on tilt before I have started!!!

Long story short get connected just after big blinds have passed – so have only missed one round which is probably not a bad thing for the way I play. Ok haven’t played a hand but realize this crazy and I shouldn’t be playing this kinda tourney. Players are banana’s and the play is ridicules, really need to pick my hands to play if im to make any money from this at all.

A K was what I was looking for and what I got. I raise about the pot and of course get one called. Flop is checked which is a blessing for me as I haven’t got anything but draws and im talking runner runner draws! Turn brings the $$$$$ card and I of course check and he still checks the spastic. I bet out the river when I make 2 pair but he fold and we go to the next hand. I’m just happy I won although this paragraph sounds like I should be greedy and ant more.

Very quick so far. I’m up and down like a yoyo trying to play too many hands and getting sucked into silly hands like suited connectors – calling when there is a raise and out of position. The tourney has already lost 15 players in 18 minutes which would equal money very soon. But not looking to good as we type this with only $1230 in chips.

Feeling a little sick and yet of course another bad beat to knock me out. I played this hand as good as I could and still loose. I raise the pot from UTG with pocket 10’s to $280 (leaves me with $930 chips left) and get one caller. Flop comes down 6c 5d Qs I think he has nothing immediately and can’t really put him on a hand so I bet half my stack knowing im commited if he pushes behind me, which he does and I insta call. He shows be Kh 6d – wow Im miles ahead and he thinks his hand is better than me preflop and he puts me all in. Don’t waste anytime now – BANG – on the turn the beautiful suck out card 6h and to add salt to the wound the Kc on the river. Out 25th

So I make a good play and get unrewarded. Fair to say on tilt a little but glad cant play anymore for the day because I know I would donk off more than make any $$$.

Record not looking good after 3 and struggling to improve at all! The word of the day ouch!

“OUCH - Used to express sudden pain or displeasure.

Fastest SnG Game Ever!

2007-10-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

This is my 1st SnG Tournament that I'll be blogging on and is hopefully the only shortest one too! I'm playing a $2.25 18 Players, cos I like to sit around and wait for a decent hand and therefore Turbo is not for me!

My very 1st playable hand is JhJc, blinds are at 15/30 and lucky for me I'm on the Button... Poppyh in MP raises to 60, 2 ppl Called so I re-raise the pot to 345 and everyone folded so I made 285. The next hand right after was JhJc [again] there's only 1 caller after the blinds and I raised to 300 and they all folded [again].

Blinds are now 20/40 in MP I've got AdAc, kane843 raises to 140, up to me I re-raise the pot to 480 and guess what? Yes, they all folded! Won 340, my chip count is now at 1925. Won a few small pots in between until I played 5c5d 30/60 blinds, I called 60 and the same raiser as always Poppyh in LP raises to 270 and we're now heads up. Flop was J68 [all clubs] I checked to the raiser but Poppyh checks too! Turn Kc, I check again and Poppyh made a very weird bet of 60 [why 60?] anyway I still think I'm ahead so I called. River was 2d and we both checked, Poppyh actually had AK offsuit but I took down the pot!

On the Button again with KsKh no callers, up to me I raised to 500, drsuzes on BB re-raises All-in so I called with 2575, probably thought I made a move on the Button [??]. Turns over AhJs, the flop was QcQdJd, I'm still ahead! Turn was Jh, yep... I'm gone! River 9h, no good!

Pretty bad results, came 15th! Have never been out so quick before! Oh well, what can I say? I love Pocket Kings! Especially losing to AJ off-suit! I'll put more pics on next time, it's my 1st blog, was kinder too slow, by the time I'm blogging it the last 50 hands history already took off the hands that I needed!! Account balance is now at $296.85!

The Pro Is In The Building

2007-10-16T21:03:00.001-07:00

Ok so this is my first official post for the Bankroll Experience.
I dont have anything poker related to post just yet. Bare with me though, I have alot on my plate right now. I do promise to have something up by the weekend.

Take 2 - sit and go 6 handed turbo

2007-10-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

Same yet different. Obviously 6 handed a little faster and turbo makes it even more interesting. A lot more aggressive play is involved and only top 2 gets paid.

Down to $510 after playing a hand I probably shouldn’t be getting involved in. People will have their opinions but I think the play was right... then wrong – if that makes sense?

I'm under the gun with a little hand Ah10c but have been playing tight thus far. I raise the pot and it gets folded around to the big blind who goes all-in. Now this particular player has been super aggressive and is the short stack. My initial thinking process was ‘he knows I'm a tight player and will try to get my chips right now.’ I end up calling and he happens to have pocket Q’s! What am I supposed to do? Fold would probably be the correct answer, but I dish off a lot of chips and get crippled.

A few hands later I get pocket J’s in the small blind and move all-in. I might be lucky that the big blind has A J off suit as you can see below, but he still makes the call and I doubled up!

This time I’m not unlucky and pick up pocket Q’s again in the small blind (I'm never unlucky, am I truly?) to an all-in under the gun with pocket 10’s. I of course instant call and knock this fella out of the tournament.

Down to four players and sitting as the short stack waiting for another double up quickly!

Three handed – pace has picked up and now running second in chips and has to be pointed out this was the funniest hand of the sit and go and why we are down to three players. Well the story is a below but be fair I was the big blind and it didn’t cost me a cent. Not only that he checked the flop after me and bet out all the way till the river when I check raised him all-in, he called in a heart beat. Yes thats 8 3 off suit – ship it!!

Ouch! Out on the bubble with a silly hand! Below are the details that I don’t want to explain except the part I pushed all-in on the flop – pretty bad play but thought I was ahead. No excuse and no wonder they call me the Donkey.

Sneaky play by Mrck for not raising preflop on the button but he caught me like he was fishing for his avatar.

The Donkey’s record stands now at 1-1. How does this work when our account is:

Because FullTiltPoker are smart. The entry fee and the fact that I got pretty much stuff all for my first sit and go. Next time the Donkey will strike back!

Sit and Go the way to go go go

2007-10-16T07:07:00.001-07:00

Ok first hand of the tourney and lucky I'm on the button, I start off with a really bad hand like:

Yep that’s me the Donkey. I should point out all our play will be under bankroll exp as our ID.

I’m playing a Turbo $2+$.025 Single Table Sit and Go. This obviously falls into the category of the 2-5% bankroll feature and I believe because it’s a turbo tourney that I won’t have to play a lot of hands to make the money.

12 hands later and still haven’t played a hand yet, but not in bad shape. Only lost my blinds and 3 players already under $1000 in chips which is proving my strategy of just hanging around is working. Staying out of the way early is a great way of not getting in trouble although in saying that picking your time to double up early can prove to be priceless.

A hand at last….. until I overplayed a terrible hand like AJ...

I do think I am winning and believe that Fuglsang100 is only playing position and has proved to be by far the most aggressive but I don’t think it’s a great idea to be risking a lot of my chips on AJ off suit! I fold and lost some chips and now wish this wasn’t a turbo sit and go!!!!!

Down to $510 in chips and desperately need a hand quickly! Only 5 left and could have been happy with the pissy little $350 I raised with when having AJ off suit!

This is why Im the ‘donkey’:

I try to steal from the SB with K8 when its folded to me, but find the BB has pocket 10’s – oops! I get very lucky and end up winning and double up to $1100. Hey I'm just happy to have the money, sometimes u got to get lucky. In the famous words of Joe Hachem – Pass the ‘donkey’ his sugar!!!!

Last hand for me –

I'm the small blind but I'm not the short stack (GNG is the lucky culprit of that)! I get pushed all-in preflop by the spastic on the button and instant call for all my chips and GHG still calls knowing if he folds he makes the money. I lost the hand on the river – which normally would happen on Full Tilt anyway, but beat GNG and grab third place. Not a bad effort after only playing something like 6 hands for the whole tourney!

Can’t get upset with my play about the last hand, as I was short on chips and still pushed with the best hand when all the money was in the middle. So the account now looks like this:

Fair to say a waste of time to only make $1.35 – but slowly slowly and the results will come. $1.35 at a time. We have all the time in the world and nothing to complain about when the money goes into the account!

The Donkey cashes and holds 100% record so far – thats one in a row!!!

Finally we have lift off

2007-10-15T04:16:00.000-07:00

OK so maybe Full Tilt Poker wasn't the problem - maybe it was my credit card and the bank that wouldn't approve of the transaction unless I ring them first to explain to them that I am using money from my credit card for online gambling site so they can let the transfer of my funds through!

Anyways... a whole waste of time later - it looks like the wheels are finally in motion and the work we promised might in fact get started. Kick back relax and enjoy the blog

Full Tilt Money Problems

2007-10-14T03:39:00.000-07:00

So far nothing has been done and to tell you the truth I have been disappointed to say the least. And I think the rock and the thought about pro agree 100%. Full Tilt Poker looks like its screwing us around and we haven't been able to deposit money - none whatsoever! And I have been thinking about doing the same project on Pokerstars - although I am yet to discuss this topic with my counterparts (who will by no means find out once they read this).

Full Tilt really have problems with their money system and doesn't have the 24/7 live chat program to help you out when problems like this arise. Its always the same email which includes the following :

"This is an automated message sent from Full Tilt Poker.
Your Player ID: bankroll exp
Date and Time: 2007-10-14 06:29:04
Transfer Number: 013B99B8
Payment Method: Visa Amount: $300.00
Status: DECLINED

Your deposit request has been declined. Please review your personal account information to ensure that it is the same as the information stored with your payment processor. You may correctany of your personal information and try again. If you are still unsuccessful, you may wish to try one of the other available deposit methods."

Blah Blah Blah - what a load of shit. I don't want to sound like a degenerate gambler but for god's sake let me put some money into the account for this little assignment so it can get kick started.

We are working on it and this week everything will be sorted, its just whether or not it will be with FullTiltPoker (our preference) or not. Until the cards hit our screen, we will be typing soon...

Welcome one, Welcome all

2007-09-19T20:58:00.001-07:00

Ok here is the deal. We are a team of three, consisting of 2 males and a female. Anthony along with David and Monica are creating The Bankroll Experience. The best way to describe us is a donkey (Anthony) a thought about pro (David) and a complete an utter rock (Monica).

Why do we do this you ask? Simple we have a strategy to combine all our games to build a bankroll big enough to achieve goals that might be out of reach for one of us. We will be putting out brains and money together (only $100 US each) along with our different styles of play to see how this experiment will go. Create a brand new account on Full Tilt Poker through Pokernews and try to get some rake back as we play.

We have a couple of guidelines in doing this as we want this to last a little bit more than a couple of weeks!! The plan is as follows:
1. No cash games (this is a topic of discussion but definitely not out for good, may be implemented if bankroll does get better)
2. Can only play one tournament or sit and go per day (each player) without conceding more than 2%-5% of the bankroll. i.e. have $200 in bankroll can only play sit and go between $4-$10.

To make the journey a little more interesting we will be blogging on each and every tournament we play, so you guys can join us on this wonderful yellow brick road to a bigger and better bankroll. Updates will include individual hands, % of hands played, notes about fellow players, how we think we played, etc etc

So the plan looks and sounds simple, but will it work? We sure hope so. All this will begin very shortly, so stay tuned and keep a check on us regularly as we try to make this bankroll experience a good one for us and a great read for you.