So let's do an approximate recap of how it's gone so far:

1) +500

2) -700

3) + 1200

4) + 1400

5) + 300

Wins: 3400

Losses: 700

Profit: $2700

Doing well.

Profit: 2700

May 13, 8:00Pm

Currently at the library trying to work, got last night's poker on my mind so I figured I would quikcly post, especially since I didn't get a chance to last night.

Last night was just plain BAD. I got unlucky, I later then didn't play very well. It was just generally bad. In the end, I made my way back to equal and even posted a medime sized profit but it was a long haul and it was a certain degree of luck, rather than skill that saved my hyde.

Basically I ended up with a "crazy" at my table - someone unattached to their money, usually drunk, rich, and often both who simply diasregards all strategy (which they likely know, but are simply choosing not to apply) and are jsut engaged in bi pots, big blufs, big suck-outs etc.

I had one of these guys at my table -in fact I had a couple of them and it made the game very volatile. My meagre 200 stack was getting called by up to four players (all with weaker hands) but I just wasn't hitting unfortunately.

At firast, I got it in good with A9 suited, not at strong a holding but the betting pattern made everything seem weak. Got called by 10J off and 45 suited to lose on the turn when Mr. 45 made a straight.

Similar situation with AQ offsuited whehn I got called by 4 players - would you believe, and unsurprisingly didn't win the 1100 preflop sized pot!

Down 400 I gradually crawled back, making some plays, getting rather lucky and nursing my last 200 buy-in into 875, for a 275 profit!

A successful night numerically but very risky, too volatile and frankly a scary for my liking

ALSO, I got up early yesterday to work so I was not as alert, or sharp as when I wake up at 4:00PM (evidenced by the fact that I past out in the cab on the way home!) - this is just stupid- I was clearly the most exhausted person at the table and there is no need to face that additional hurlde. I played till 7:00Am -I should have elft at 4:30!

Session time: 7:00 hours

Result: + $275

Comments: Uncomfortable with risk level, could easily have lost $600.

Lesson learned? Tough to say, I still want to get in those type of uber soft games, but my risk tolerance may just not be high enough. I think thenext time I see one of those games, I should just pe extra tight, buy in a little deeper, peel of a few more flops (even if they cose 35-45 a pop) rather than oput it all in pre-flop with strong, but not dominating hands.

AVP

May 11, 8:17 AM,

Another huge night last night.

Started with 200 and ran up to 925 or thereabouts. Then the table broke, I collected my 925 and moved on to another table starting again with 200 (i.e. + 725) Played there for about an hour, nothing huge happening but made it to 300 - table broke again (+100). Bought in again for 200 at around 4:30 Am and made my way to 825 (+625). Had to return my friend his car which forced me to leave at peak.

Proud of my play tonight. I had good hands but managed to keep tight image and get away with a few key bluffs. Started getting a little frisky near the end of the night as I began to accumulate chips and as the table loosened up (which I realize is something I need to focus on not doing) - there's not reall any advantage to doing so, but all in all, I'm happy with my play and the way it worked out!

Sessions time: 6 hours (approx)

Net profit of $1450 (1435 after food and tips)

AVP

Huge night, plus 1200 or so, give or take some change!!!
Played well, got lucky, was rewarded.

Last night was really bad, didn't write much but was pretty disillusioned with the project after putting in so much time, but tonight was great. Bought in extra small and just slowly climbed through the night. This should be my new strategy, just buy in for 160 or 175.

Anyway bankroll is now 2950 including all the deductions for living over the past few days.

Got to pay old roommate tomorrow a hefty sum for cumulative bills (in the range of 350 or so, so my bankroll will unfortunately take a hit, but such is life!!!

Tomorrow is a big study day and we'll see about poker in the evening.

I hope to remain on track

AVP

Major setback today. Lost 700, (3 buy ins) Went home. What's worse is that I was up but had a bad run of cards and came up broke . Another 20 bucks for cab and expenses over the last few days means I am left with between 1600-1700 from the original bankroll. Not good. Its stressful being down. I really liked having that 500 positive cushion, it allowed me to play better, feel more comfortable. Now I just got to keep focused and get back on track.
Tomorrow is another day

AVP

Sat May 8, 10:21 Am,

Just got home after a nearly 10 hour session. I m exhausted. Today was day one of the poker experiment. I don't have the energy to write a proper report. Its been quite some time since I played such a long session on several different tables, and many different tables. In general I played well, but there were definitely some points where I was not playing optimally. I bluffed off a huge pot near the end of the night which is unfortunate and my play became a bit too volatile for my liking. I became engaged in huge pots, big bluffs, big swings - rarely actually had a hand. I was best when I played tight, pulled the occasional bluff because of my table image. Getting too frisky just isn't worth it.

Anyway, all in all it was a very successful first session. I made $550 - a 20$ cab fair for a profit of $530 which is a great start.

The situation for playing is not idea. My not having a car means even if I take the metro there, I still spend $20 on a taxi home - which is really expensive. Also staying at home means that I feel really awkward coming home at 10:00 and, saying I slept at at a friend's house and then sleeping away much of the day. Anyway, not ideal but that's the situation- so I deal.

When I wake up later today, its paper writing all night, perhaps until 1:00 or 2:00 where I might hit up the night session if I have the energy

Anyway, a great beginning + $530.

Time to go to bed

AVP

The poker experiment will begin tomorrow. The bankroll has been set at $2000, and the goal will be to reach $6000, with anything over $5000 being at the lower limit of acceptability. The next three weeks will be very challenging as I need to juggle my papers which ultimately take precedence over my poker trials. I hope that my desire to do both will force me to be more efficient in my paper writing and more disciplined in my poker playing.

I'm actually happy that I didn't start today as it afford me some opportunity to reflect on more detailed strategy for playing. I sincerely believe that at the, 2-5 games which I will be playing, the optimal strategy will be the old "tight-is-right" approach - restricting myself to premium hands, draws in late position and rarely bluffing. I remember the last times I played here you had many players calling bets on flop-turn-river with A8-A10 without concern. The idea will be to play my big hands and play them hard.

Anyway, I stumbled across a decent article online at onlinefreepokerplayer.com entitled "How to Beat Bad Players in No Limit Hold 'em Cash Games" and I really find the advice to be sound. The article outlines all the poor choices made by "bad" poker players. Its all stuff I know but to provide a summary of the main points will help me to ensure that I do not play in this fashion - ever. I estimate that at least 4-5 out 10 players at a two five table meet this definition (as do I at moments of weakness) but this is where my profit will come from. So here are the mistakes to avoid:

1) DO NOT PLAY THAT MANY HANDS

There is no reason for my to play hands like JK 10Q K10. The blinds are so small compared to the pot sizes that there is no reason to risk complications by calling a raise with these types of hands. If I intend to enter a pot with these hands I should raise (not call) but there is no reason to venture into pots with troubling hands, when I can just wait for premium hands!

2) DO NOT INVEST MUCH MONEY WITH WEAK HOLDINGS

Following step 1) tends to avoid step 2. If you play J10 off, and hit either pair, you hand is vulnerable to a stronger holding. Since you don't play a hand to hit the flop and fold, you are likely to keep calling, potentially getting yourself even more invested. Conversely, if I am playing better hands, like AJ, I won't have that problem

3) DO NOT PAY TOO MUCH FOR A DRAW

I love draws, everyone does, but they are often just a way to gamble. There's no point paying too much for a draw (unless you are sure that you will reap the benefits in terms of implied odds on the turn of river) The other option is to big re-raise the draw as well. THis is usually one of the most appealing options but I find that players now are mindful of the flush draw - over card all in-bet and have become more likely to call with a medium holding. On the other hand a big re-reraise with a made hand (big top pair or two pair) might be seen as a flush draw bet and is more likely to get called - something to keep in mind.

4) BE MINDFUL OF POT SIZE, AND STACK SIZE WHEN MAKING A DECISION

This is really important for me. I am rarely deep stacked (at least I won't be until I run well or raise my bankroll) so I need to be mindful of pot size and stack size. I often find myself with 160 remaining and need to ensure that if eventually I am willing to get away from a hand, I leave myself the opportunity to effectively do so.

5) CONSIDER POSITION

I cannot stress this enough. I have always been aware of the importance of position in poker from a theoretical perspective but find that I often do not put it into practice sufficiently. I get excited at teh prospect of A10off but that's probably not a good hand if I'm in first-third position. This is really something to focus on. Position dictates hand selection and also facilitates play later on.

6) BEWARE THE RE-RAISE

Be mindful and require serious holdings to call. AK seems like the minimum to call a serious re-raise (unless of course the re-raiser to very active)

7) DO NOT BLUFF THAT MUCH

There is nothing more exciting for a player than toi pick off a bluff. Don't bluff. I'm not saying don't make continuation bets but don't make big- three barrel bluffs. They lose a lot of money and with players who love calling, they are going to be a losing propositions. The retired old man doesn't mind calling 200 on the river with his A8 after hitting top pair, better that, than be bluffed by the young gun.




ERGO: WHAT IS THE OPTIMAL STRATEGY?

1) BET/PLAY GOOD HANDS

2) BET THEM STRONGLY

3) DO NOT BLUFF, MUCH

That's all for now.
It begins tomorrow

AVP