Thursday, December 31, 2009

Update #3: Bankroll Progress for December '09

Bankroll: $80.61

Profit for the Month: $60.74

The goal at the end of November was to be well on my way to 90$, where I could move to play 2$ games, and, at 100$, add in some ring games. This month was a great success as I am only a day or two from reaching 90$.

Since my last update, I have broken up my playing as follows. About 80% of my playing has gone into $1.20 single table Sit & Go's. 18% went into MTTs, most of which cost 1$. Once, I played a 3$ MTT and made a deep run to win 20$; this was a HUGE lift in my progress and since then I have made above-expectation progress. MTTs are fine to do every now and then, but even if you go deep, you only rake in a few dollars at this level unless you make a final table. Your time is better put into Sit & Go's but MTTs are always a fun challenge. The other 2% of my play-time was spent on the $.01 / $.02 ring games as a preview, those went pretty well.

The transition from $0.25 90 player Sit & Go's to Single table 1$ Sit & Go's was difficult at first - it is a different ball-game. After playing them one at a time, I figured out a decent strategy. I'm now playing about 8-10 at a time, with average profit of 3-9$ / session. This is MUCH more satisfying than the $0.25 FOUR hour sessions, where I would average half the profit in twice the time.

Right now I am trying to take advantage of Pokerstar's Sit and Go leaderboard. It looks like I may be able to get an extra 20$ / week plus a freeroll entry every month to help supplement my progress. This is the first week I've tried it, right now I'm heading for a top 10 finish but that's for another update.

My goal for the end of this month was to be well on my way to 90$. I expect to reach 100$ in less than 10 days. There I can play ring games at the $0.01 / $0.02 tables, I can continue the 1$ Sit and Go's, and I can add on 2$ MTTs as well as 2$ 90 player games -- Much more versatility. With that said, I expect to reach 150$ by the end of January. There I can add on 3$ single table Sit and Go's, 3$ MTTs; in addition I can make a run for their next highest sit and go leaderboard. (For more information, visit: http://www.pokerstars.com/poker/promotions/battle/)

Under tougher expectations, I hope to be coming close to 200$ by the end of next month. At that point, I can move up to $0.02 / $0.05 ring games, and 4$ Sit & Go's / tournaments. This may be a stretch since I will be back to school but I will dedicate as much time as possible without interfering with studies / college-life. :)

NOTE: I am no longer going to be adding session-to-session updates, but I will continue to add at least one large update per month.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Sessions 42-44

Bankroll: $64.90

No specifics on the sessions are available due to being very busy with the Holidays. I made a deep run in a 1$ [500$ GTD] tournament to account for most of it; the rest is from single table Sit & Go's and a few Omaha / NL Hold'em $0.01 / $0.02 ring games. I'll resume session-to-session updates from here.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Session 41 ***

$3.30 MTT [$4000 GTD]

Players: 4621
Place: 58 [1.36%]

Profit: +$15.77

Bankroll: $53.54


This tournament turned out to be the deepest run I have ever made in a MTT. It was not proper bankroll management, but going up a level higher is not strictly against the rules. In fact, if you are running well or just need a bit of excitement, then it is encouraged. Really paid out here!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Session 40

$1.20 Single Table

Place: 2

Profit: +$1.50

Bankroll: $37.77

Session 39 ***

$2.20 90 Player Sit & Go

Best Finish: 16
Worst Finish: 42
Average Finish: 29 [31%]

Profit: -$4.40

Bankroll: $36.27

0/8 streak!! I went to 16th place in latest tournament but made a poor decision of going all in with A J suited, preflop, and lost to a 8 7 suited flush. If I had been patient I could have avoided a loss there. I am going probably give these 2$ Sit & Go's 2 more shots; if I finish 0-10 I am going to do a short recovery from $0.25 games - so I can get a confidence (and a bankroll) boost - then, I will stick to 1-table 1$ S&G's, as well as 1$ MTTs. But going 0 for 8 is a bit of a shock to me, I never had such trouble at the $0.25 level. Then again, it is way unorthodox to be playing those on a 40$ bankroll. I wish Pokerstars would fulfill my request for 1$ non-turbos....getting frustrating...Anyways...2 more shots; if I can't win, I will build back to 40$ the hard way, then try a new method.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Session 38

$2.20 90 Player Sit & Go

Best Finish: 45
Worst Finish: 72
Average Finish: 58.5 [65%]

Profit: -$4.40

Bankroll: $40.67


The transition from $0.25 to $2.20 has been rough!!

Session 37

$0.01 / $0.02 Ring Game (Pot Limit Omaha)

Buyin: 5$

Number of hands: ~85

Profit: +$5.05

Bankroll: $45.07