End of Month / Major "Lightbulb" Moment...

I think in the future when I look back at this month, I am going to see it as a break through month in my poker development.

My results have certainly not been spectacular, actually they have been pretty poor.

However I have made several realisations, and have acknowledged principles that I knew but had not embraced (both mentally and in demonstration in my game).

The Poker Mindset, Essential Attitudes for Poker Success by Ian Taylor and Matthew Hilger, has been the trigger for my poker "light bulb" moment (actually several moments!).

In the book seven attitudes which make up the "Poker Mindset" is discussed in immense detail.

The Poker Mindset

1. Understand and Accept the Realities Of Poker
2. Play for the Long Term
3. Emphasize Correct Decisions over Making Money
4. Desensitize Yourself to Money
5. Leave Your Ego at the Door
6. Cancel All Emotion from Decisions
7. Dedicate Yourself to a Continuous Cycle of Analysis and Improvement

I have managed to identify numerous bad habits, traits and actions which were (and some currently still remain) in my game. They have been holding me back significantly.

I have a very solid understanding of the fundamentals of the game. I am very confident (let realise the huge room for development / improvement) in my ability, and now I am incredibly excited at the potential the future holds for me.

I will go into further detail about both the content of this book, and more importantly the relevant impact on my game in future blogs.

I am not really greatly concerned in monetary results or goals any longer, as I embrace that if play well in a session (or a series of sessions), and make correct decisions I will be a winner in the long run (which is all that matters!), however I will continue recording my results(obviously!).

Here are my end of results for February:

The Casino:
15 Sessions (95 Hours) / 11 Winning Sessions / Total Profit: £2,227 / £23.44p/h.
Online:
75 Hours / 46.32% Winning Sessions / Total Profit: (-$207.60 / (-$2.75p/h).

I have to be honest with myself and accept I played pretty poorly online (through my bursts of monkey tilt!). I am over that now (I hope!).

I will be re depositing online either on William Hill (slightly concerned at the low volume of players / game selection) or back on Party Poker.

As always I want to finish on a positive note...I had a minor operation to remove a non active tumour today, all went pretty well (I hope!). Here is a photo of me on my death bed (just kidding!), obviously reading a poker book!

Peace!

I am a tilt monkey...

After let another awful day online I have actually realised for sure I am a fucking tilt monkey.

The reason why I am stuck playing the $100NL and $200NL games is simply my lack of emotional control. There is no doubt I am a well rounded, solid poker player but I will not progress through the stakes until I get my emotional state under control.

So after my recent downswing + monkey tilt, my hard work over January (and early February) has been pretty much undone.



I have cashed out my bankroll from Party Poker, simply to give myself an oppurtunity to start fresh, with a clean slate.

Although I am still showing profits of over $1.5k for the year so for online, and I will admit I am some what hard on myself, I am really disgusted with my inability to control my emotions.

So my plan is to re deposit on another site, possibly UB (due to the 30% rake back I receive), and get back on track.

The Vic was sweet this week, I cashed in a profit of just under £2k in 5 days.

Anyway, I will try to remain positive.

£2k barrier broken at The Vic for February...

Just a quick update on life. I am pretty much still sucking online at the moment, and although my downswing is pretty much not wanting to leave me alone I have managed to steady the ship somewhat.

I logged in 4 winning sessions out of 4 this week at The Vic, and there are good signs of a start of a tear up. I am already up over £2,000 for the month of February, and playing well (running pretty good too!).

Well I am going to log in a quick session online now, see if Mr Downswing is still serving breakfast.

More ship less talk at The Vic...

A quick update to get this blog moving in the positive direction again. I booked in a solid winning session of over £800 last night at The Vic.

Ran pretty good, and played well. We also had the 72 game going, and I managed to win about £100 in props. from the table. Weeee....

I love sitting deep in the £1-£2 game, but the best moment of cashing +£1k at The Vic, as all true ballers will know is getting the plastic...



Anyway, enough of that...back to the grind of online. Let me see if I can get out of this fucking downswing.

More downswing...time for a break!

After another losing day I have decided to take couple of days off to relax rather than trying to play through the downswing.

Nothing seems to be going my way, and however much I try to stay positive I must say my frame of mind is bad.

I am going to buy some Family Guy DVDs and just chill! I will be back stronger and I will recover!

Weeeee.....

Downswing continues...no monkey tilt!

So I am desperately trying to play through my sick downswing, and yesterday I felt pretty good about the way I played.

There was two key hands which if they went my way I could of recorded a winning day.

Hand 1: I raise on the cut off with J J get one caller out of the blinds. Flop is J 5 2 (two clubs). I lead out with my trips once it is checked to me. To my delight I get min. check raised. I over shove all in for about $90. The guy tanks, and eventually calls me with his club draw and gets there to ship a pot of $197.30.

Hand 2: I raise on the button with 55, and get one caller. I flop my set on a king high flop, and lead out strong. I get floated by my opponent who has 1010, he manages to turn another 10. Set over set, perfect! I ship over a pot worth $207.

I remained calm throughout the day, with no sign of monkey tilt. I hope things will turn around today.

Disgusting downswing...

Wow what a difference two days can make! After a very nice day couple of days ago, I have been on the worse downswing I have experienced for long time.

Wednesday...

Thursday...

I just seem to be getting outdrawn and coolered all over the place. To be fair I do go through bursts of monkey tilt too.

I get really depressed and negative about poker in general. But after reading several blogs from other poker players I have accepted that I am not the only player in the world to suffer a downswing. I must learn to deal with it.

Fresh start today, no tilting, no shouting, no negativity. Recovery begins here.

$700+ day smashes $5k barrier....

After several days of erratic form I got back on track yesterday recording a profit of over 3 buy ins playing $1-$2. Saturday through to Monday had been pretty frustrating.

Saturday...

Sunday...

Monday...

Tuesday...

I decided to switch over to the 10 handed tables, and step up stakes to the $1-$2 games. I have found there is a greater pool of weaker players on the long handed games as opposed to the short handed.

I am pretty much playing solid ABC poker and showing a good win rate. As my confidence grows I plan to open up my range (as certainly I feel I am playing a little too tight), and become more aggressive on all streets.

So I have managed to break through let another $1k barrier. Weeeee...I have over $5k to work with. I have grinded my way to a profit of over $4k, through cash games and tournaments in under one month.

My form at The Vic has been satisfactory but I am playing a very tight passive game due to my current bankroll restrictions. Therefore I may either stay away until I cash out some funds, or grind the £0.50-£1.00 (which is a pain!). I have however recorded profits of over £700 this month there.

Here are more barrier breaking celebratory photos...

The boys...(the good looking guy in the middle is me!)...

Me and Party Pat...

I am this close from being a good poker player...

Ship it!

Continued success at The Vic...

I have not had much time to play online this week due to my sessions at The Vic. I did however recover from a losing day on Wednesday, by having a +$300 day yesterday.

Wednesday (very frustrating session...)


Friday (a little bit more fun...)


I have been playing well at The Vic, and managed to win over £600 this week. I just finished cleaning the flat (well the living room) and feel drained, so not much more to write at the moment.

Couple of days off...

Nothing to report for Monday and Tuesday. I took a couple of days off online, and checked out the action at The Vic.

Put in long sessions both on Monday, and in particular last night when I played until 4am.

Came out with about a £400 profit. The games are so soft it is actually ridiculus. I really do believe I have a considerable edge.

Anyway, back to the grind today.

Another tournament cash breaks $4k barrier...

I had a fun let frustrating Sunday. I ran pretty bad over 2,000 hands on the cash games, and only managed to get out of the red by putting in a short session at the $1-$2 games.

I did however manage win a seat to the $300k guarantee (one of the Sunday majors) through a $12 satelite. I then went on to cash in the event for over $350, busting out with about 200 players left.

Slightly disappointed as early on and through the middle stages of the tournament I had accumulated a very decent stack, only to run AK into QQ. As they say you have to win these coin flips to have a chance.

So through my recent cash game success, and my tournament winnings I have gone through let another $1k barrier, up and over $4k now (in under 20 days!).

Weee.....as celebratory pictures for the $3k profit I have chosen some photos of my set-up...

My lucky donkey is priceless...

My office...

Nice start to the month...

Sick swings...

I had a very stressful group of sessions last night, and am so relieved to get out the other end with a small profit.



At one point I was down $500, and feeling very tilted. I actually forced myself to stop playing and tried to go to bed. But I was too stressed to sleep, and got back into another session.

I managed to recover my defecit. Weee...

Along the way I played some $1-$2, and the action is crazy. I am feeling motivated by the prospect of stepping up soon.

Momentum continues...

Had a solid day yesterday recording a profit of just under 3 buy ins. My consistency on the $100 tables continue.

I am now very close to both the 20k hands and the $4k bankroll requriements I set for myself in order to step up to the $200 tables.

I am very happy with my progress on Pary Poker, and certainly am glad to make the switch from Poker Stars. The opponents are for sure a great deal weaker.

I visited The Vic earlier, playing a short while on the £1.00-£2.00 game. I managed to make a small profit which I used to buy in to the £50 freezeout (which I busted with around 3 tables left).

I am planning to return to The Vic soon (possibly this week coming or the following week), the players are so fucking weak it really is sickining to pass up the oppurtunity.

A new month...

I ended January with a losing day of just over a buy in. Looking over some of the hands from the sessions, it appears I played a very high variance session with several big pots causing large swings.

Although I am not too disappointed as I have been on pretty much a heater over last 10 days, I need to make sure I play my "A" game at all times, and not spew chips.

I am currently over "rolled" for the $100 max tables, and am considering stepping up to the $1-$2 games. I feel because I have a confortable bankroll it is causing me to be slightly looser (although this seriously is not reflected by my poker tracker stats).

I desperately want to take a shot and step up, but would definately feel a little bit better if I had $4k (I currently have $3.5k). Meh...I will see how it goes today.

Anyway, I managed to make up my loses from The Vic and about break even for the month of January. Hoping for a nice run in February both online, and live.