Joined: Nov '10
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 102
Ok, So i have been out of full time employment for a couple of years, due to a knee injury, picked up playing semi professional rugby. Anyway, I have decided to turn my focus onto poker, having played of and on for a number of years, I never played it seriously until now.
So my aim of this, is to become as some may say, a professional poker player. And what better way to keep my focus than to create a blog about it, and hopefully you guys, will be able to keep me on the straight and narrow, and have an input to better my overall gameplay.
I will be focusing on a couple of poker sites to start my bankroll, and then transferring that to maybe 1 or 2 at a later stage. My aim is to not fund any of this venture myself, and start a bankroll from scratch, which may or may not happen. Either way, if i do deposit it will only be $10 here and there, as I cant afford any larger.
I will be posting some videos of tournaments played and a quick summary of how they went, And will also be live streaming alot of tournaments, so I can get live interaction with you guys. That can be found at my livestream channel at http://www.twitch.tv/beerhuntor
So my goals are as follows (more will probably be added)
1) Play solid poker 2) Build a manageable bankroll 3) Turn bankroll into a profitable income
------------ $5 Bankrol Starter Freeroll - Betfair Poker NLHE 21st Jan 2012 - 21:05GMT Buy In $0.00 + $0.00 747 Runners
Head was clear going into this one with a focus to play solid poker, and play premium hands. Forced into a decision for my tournament in hand 6. On the button with AKs. Action folds to UTG+2 with 4k chips, she shoves, folds to +5 who calls all-in, folds round to me, I fold. Rest of table folds, Origional pusher has 88 +5 has KK, I would of took the pot.
Despite that, I continued my gameplan and played quality hands. Built my stack to around 6k, when on the SB had 52o, now I do not like to fold any cards in the blinds, if i can help it, and as it was limped around, I filled out and saw a cheap flop. Flop came 5 $ 5, I slow played and checked the flop, checked round, turn was a J, I check, someone bets 1/2 pot, I reraise all in, get 2 callers. I triple up to just over 18k and that was that. My stack increased steadily from there again by playing solid poker.
Was 6th in chips with 15 players remaining, looking to ride my stack to the FT, Then I got AKo I get a 60k allin from UTG, I reraised 102k to get heads up, get a caller from the cutoff with around 10k left, so was not so worried. Origional raiser had KK, cutoff had 10 10, KK held up and took the pot. Left with 48k.
Played ultra tight and managed to make the FT with 48k in chips, 3rd short stack. Managed to get it to 70k from blind and ante stealing, but had to push on the button with K 10d
Finished the tournament in 7th with .18c.
All in all, very pleased with the way I played and was my first final table in a MTT ever.
Edited by IceFingers (22 January 2012 @ 00:41 GMT)
Joined: Oct '09
Location: Spain
Age: 60 (M)
Posts: 2851
NOW I understand what answer you were looking for in my Sng thread!
The difference between live and Online: Outside of what I mentioned there.
1. Clicking "All-in" is easy.Shoving all your chips into the middle of the table without breaking into a sweat is not that easy.
2. People Multi-Table. almost everyone. Having 4 or more tables open makes it easier to "click and Shove" You lose, you´re still playing a bunch of games or open up some new ones.
3. No worries about "physical" giveaways. Live players use part of their brain with this concern in mind. PC players don´t need to worry about that at all.
4. The "Single" game vs "multi games" aspect. You play Live and lose. You have to go all the way home again. No more Poker once you´re out. lol
5. Everyone "sees" you lose or make a "dumb move" or "bad bluff"....shame....
6. you have to hand over real "CAsh" to play a Live game. Online, just click and play. Easy. So you lose $10...you didn´t actually have to "hand them over".
Agression Factor mostly. Basically, the most important factor is the sheer number of hands people can play online in the same amount of time.
At higher stakes Online, many High Stakes players play a very mathematical game. Statistics is the most important factor. Players winning the WCOOP events and such will play a "perfect" mathematical Game, as will the winning SnG players. Shoving 23o can be "mathematically" correct in Poker, and due to the sheer number of hands and games they, play...profitable. Doing the same thing "Live" is a different story.
I don´t think a lot of people come home and say: "I shoved 23o and lost"... But online it happens often enough.
All I can think of for now.
Nope, 1 more thing. The low/micro stakes are overly aggressive, mostly due to lack of knowledge and plain stupidity, But also because the money is "less valuable". Mid-stakes will probably most resemble Live play. And High-stakes becomes overly aggressive again, but often with very complex mathematics to back it up.
You want to play pro online, you´re going to have to study...... a lot....
Edited by IslandJack (22 January 2012 @ 00:58 GMT)
Joined: Nov '09
Location: Canada
Age: 55 (M)
Posts: 2387
Good luck with venture IceFingers, you have come to the right place for building a roll from scratch and getting good poker advice. Having visited other poker forums I have always liked this one for its informality and friendliness (most of the time!). When seeking advice for a particular poker strategy or a hand you played that left you wondering if you made the right choice, I recommend you post it as a thread on its own, as a lot of people do not look at the blogs regularly. Personally I like maintaining a blog for my own purposes, because after a while of maintaining it you can look back at some of the highs and lows and (hopefully) see progress.
Is right !!!! so don't frustrating when you get a lot of bad beat. Frustrating just make our play worse .
Yes i wil need to better my game i realize that, that was the reason to posting this blog, as to get advice and so people can see how im doing and keep me focused.
------------
Posted by mahdrof: Good luck with venture IceFingers, you have come to the right place for building a roll from scratch and getting good poker advice. Having visited other poker forums I have always liked this one for its informality and friendliness (most of the time!). When seeking advice for a particular poker strategy or a hand you played that left you wondering if you made the right choice, I recommend you post it as a thread on its own, as a lot of people do not look at the blogs regularly. Personally I like maintaining a blog for my own purposes, because after a while of maintaining it you can look back at some of the highs and lows and (hopefully) see progress.
Thanks very much, ill be sure to check out your blog and take your advice on board
------------ Ok so day 2.
Starting later than i would like to currently 4:22pm GMT. Not many tournaments worth playing in that I can see, really looking to step up the tournament play, into something more than $5 gtd, but as of yet, cannot find anything. 888poker has absolutely nothing in terms of freerolls worth entering, I have registered for HeroPoker, as I have read its a great site to start your bankroll, but cannot for the life of me get the validation email through. Had it resent at least 10 times yesterday. And so far nothing.
Anyway I am registered for the same tournament as I FT'd in last time.. The $5 Bankroll Starter on Betfair that starts in just over 40 mins. I may play a BRM Stars FR also, but not sure yet, Ill have a look on here for the next ones.
Going into today with the same attitude as yesterday, play premium hands, and play position. Will update as needed..
Wish me luck
Edited by IceFingers (22 January 2012 @ 16:27 GMT)
Joined: Apr '11
Location: Romania
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 6669
You are on the best online poker affiliate site and considering you are located in united kingdom you hare eligible for tons o no deposit bankroll offers so make sure to take them all
Joined: Nov '10
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 102
ok, have suffered a minor setback in that Betfair have reset my account. Not sure why, but my balance is now $0.00 instead of what it should be which is $0.18.
That being said, I have decided to not play today until this issue has been resolved. As don't want winnings being taken.
Ill be back at the tables tomorrow
Gl at the felt fellas
------------ OK just an update on the account front. I recieved an email from betfair support, and it turns out that I had created 2 accounts at the same time, so the one i was logging into was not the correct one, so the $0.00 balance. Silly me
Any how, now that has been resolved, I will be playing tomorow and continuing my venture..
GL at the felt
------------ Another update, I have managed to eventually get on to HeroPoker, so will be grinding the $5 24man SnG's ASAP.
Edited by IceFingers (22 January 2012 @ 21:27 GMT)
Joined: Jan '11
Location: United States
Age: 60 (M)
Posts: 3361
Read through your blog and always enjoy reading all blogs here at BRM. You can't beat the advice from the Mobsters and support here at BRM is great.
So I see you stated your going start at $0.00 and plan to build your BR from that. My only advice is, if your a confident and patient player a small deposit allows you to get in to some of the micros. This is sometime better then grueling through Freerolls that have radical play. Plus for $10.00 you'll see how you fare to other SnG or MTT players. No matter Good Luck to you and enjoyed the blog.
Joined: Dec '11
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 38 (M)
Posts: 707
i started at hero poker and played the freerolls built a bankroll of around $30 got scalped at the omaha cash games (very loose play which donks get rewarded)
started to rebuild br from scratch again and had my balance upto around $50 again lost $20 in cash games (dont know why i went back but just get bored sometimes )
im in the midst of rebuilding from scratch again as i had my $30 robbed off me, unbelievably bad luck where i was card dead every HU i entered
hopefully b up again and gonna play tighter br management
Joined: Nov '10
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 102
Thanks for the kind words, hoping to do just that with the help of HeroPoker, becasue i have read a few who have made an easy bankroll, if you are decent players.
I do plan on depositing $10 into 888poker at some point, with the GET5FREE code they offer, I can get $15 and will be grinding the .96c 40man SnG which offer $10 for 1st.
So if i can cash in 8 of 15 and win a couple. I would have a good starting bankroll.
That is my plan anyway
------------ So after something happening at home (step daughter going into labour) I am actually up later than expected, so after getting advice on the forum and watching some ehow videos I decided to register for the next $5 Freeroll 24man SnG on Hero.
I basically made it to the final table in both, by folding every hand near enough. I dont know why, but my level of play is not that great for PLO, I find it much harder to find good hands, which is to be expected, but I also find playing after the flop is alot harder, and I tend to give the benefit of the doubt with 99% of the hands if i get bet into or raised. Not sure if that is what im suppose to be doing or not, but in essence I find it really difficult to accumulate chips playing Omaha.
That being said, I final tabled both tournaments and went out 6th in one tournament, nothing special, won a few small pots, but other than that, folded most of the hands. The second tournament I was, short stack at the table, had xx77 and let it ride 2 callers, flop turns Q66, went all in for 116ish on the flop, obviously get called by 2 players turn comes a Q, so im thinking my tourny is over, then rivered a 6 giving me 6's full and took the pot. Bringing my stack to 4th with around 6k chips.
Back to folding, ended up taking 4th shoved all in with XXKK get called from the big stack, who has been raising every hand, flop comes Q, 7, 3 shoved the rest of my stack, around 600 and get called by KING HIGH!!! He turns a 5 to complete a straight.
So 2 first tournaments 2 final tables 6th + 4th cashing for .50
Looking at the stats, in both tournaments I was only playing less than 5% of hands, am I folding too much? I think im going to video the next one, and upload so you guys can watch, and hopefully give me some direction to where im going wrong.
Edited by IceFingers (23 January 2012 @ 02:05 GMT)
Joined: Feb '11
Location: Canada
Age: 34 (M)
Posts: 831
liking the blog mate! i myself do one too its a great way to improve your game i know im getting sick of not having a br to post some descent results but hope that will change soon....
i have improved immensely from having the blog as well as those plo freerolls on hero. also try the $99 MTT country restricted aswell as the $100 dollar one.
Joined: Nov '10
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 102
Ok, so its time for me to start grinding these PLO's. Will be recording a few also, so will have them up soon
Hopefully with me watching ALOT of PLO in the past days It will pay off for me on the tables.
Keep you updated.
------------ Ok first two tournaments of the day are on breaks, thaught i would post a quick update.
Recording my first tournament, currently 2nd in chips with 15/24 players remaining. Had a very hard decision just before the break to risk half my stack. Laid down a straight with 3 to the flush on board.
second tournament again playing well, currently 6th in chips with 9/24 remaining.
------------ on the final table in the second tourny
------------ and the first
Edited by IceFingers (25 January 2012 @ 16:28 GMT)
Joined: Jan '12
Location: Canada
Age: 62 (M)
Posts: 31
well icefingers, gl!!! i've been playing poker for over 40 yrs, about 12 yrs on line. the definition of playing professionally is turning a profit , and keeping it up for a period of a minimum of 12 months, (18 to 24 even better). Playing the gm u describe, I can tell u that ur probably going to get eaten up. But once again, gl.
Joined: Nov '10
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 102
First tournament busted out 4th. And my recording has dissapeared so no footage, so pissed.
------------
Posted by mindemoyamom: well icefingers, gl!!! i've been playing poker for over 40 yrs, about 12 yrs on line. the definition of playing professionally is turning a profit , and keeping it up for a period of a minimum of 12 months, (18 to 24 even better). Playing the gm u describe, I can tell u that ur probably going to get eaten up. But once again, gl.
Thanks for that boost of confidence there.. N1 Jeez what is wrong with people.
------------ ok so with the recording dissapeared, i decided to record the other table i was in, final 4. Not so long as I played reaally badly.. but meh.
Edited by IceFingers (25 January 2012 @ 16:55 GMT)
Joined: Nov '10
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 36 (M)
Posts: 102
Posted by Macubaas: NIce to see your evolution, and actually pleasant surprised that your A game is pot limit omaha(same as me).
My internet connection is really bad and cant see the vid now but after i'll see it i'll chime back in!
Actually it isnt, lol... I am a NLH player, but the site I play on offer 24man $5 freerolls SnG's for PLO only, so kind of having to learn it. Although it is a good game, and im enjoying it quite abit
------------ Well, Joined another $5 24man SnG to get the footage I had lost in the previous tournaments for you guys, and didnt turn out so well, not getting the cards i needed, although playing some hands, I played a touch more loosely than I would of normally, had around 2300 in chips, 14-15 players remaining, picked up x 10 10 7 i think it was, cant remember what the other card was, anyway flop came q x 10 and hit my straight, turn came j, i knew i was ahead, i pushed for 1300, this donkey called with Q
Actually scratch everything i said there, Having just reviewed that hand.. I played it drastically bad.. OMG,
Not sure how i can post the hand anywhere for you to see, you will need to watch the video which is rendering now.
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Portugal
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 4827
It’s a start, I think that you do well! If you are stop from the full time job, you have got to find something to distract yourself, and if you manage to earn something with that and keep supporting family house needs, that will be the best. Of course that what you are showing here is just a start, but, taking in consideration you have lots of free time, I think you should read some books, explore BRM forums, there are very nice themes that were once very commented and good hand analysis, I think that you do well in going to look for older forums around here, you will find interesting material that can help you in your game, maybe even more than your blog: because, if no poker players know it and go comment, you will not win any knowledge with it. Here at BRM you have all the work done for you: good poker players between the community, and a variety of opinions that can lead you to your own thought about each singularity of poker.
)
so no footage, so pissed. 
