Casual-to-Part time

What a busy week. I'm back in school now and spent close to 500 bucks on books ( so gross) and I still need one more book. All my classes seem pretty interesting except for shitty women and gender studies this is going to be a tough one to get through.

As for my targets this week I did manage to reach 100 games, but I had to bump from 4 tabling to 6 tabling on the last day to reach my target. It has made me realize that I feel pretty comfortable playing that many tables and might just stick with it. With school,kickboxing and my social life I think 6 tabling will be easier to reach my target of 100 games per week. So we will see how that goes. As for making any money I am sorry to report that I have lost some BIs and that my bankroll is shrinking. It gets so frustrating knowing that I can't even beat the micros. It also seems that even the micro's 18 mans are heavily infested with regs which really doesn't help, but I know if I keep working I can turn things around. Hey worst comes to worst I have to through some more money at this game that I love lol. Oh well.

As you can see by my graph things are not looking the greatest, very up and down and down and down lol.

• So I completed: 100 touneys
• ROI%: -10.8%
• In the money%: 25.3%
• Winnings: -36.74 (about 12BIs)
• Time played: 20hours
• $/hr: -$1.94
• Avg Buyin: $3.44

$EV adjusted:

• ROI %: 1.3%
• Winnings: $4.47
• $/hr: 0.24

So it was a bad week, but hey things could have been worse I could have 0 dollars in my BR right?

HH's: defintely have been going over my troubled spots and talking about them on skype which really helps. I have found 2 great groups of guys that love to talk about this game and my game is dveloping alot faster because of these guys and I thank you very much for any help you may have offered me. Thank you.

As for my studying targets: I was able to finish a chapter of Colin moshmons book about Calling All-ins and Profitable “Passive” Plays. This chapter was crucial for me on understanding on how to play when I am short stacked and when to open my calling ranges against other villains. I have really enjoyed this book and has also helped me develop my game and feel more confident in my decision making. ( Thank you Colin Moshmon).

I am also in the middle of reading Tommy Angelo's book which is very insightful and enjoy it very much. I originally watched his vids on the Eightfold Path to Poker Enlighment a while back and did not even consider reading his book. I was still tilting lots, but tried to implement his strategies on helping with my tiltlessness. However some of the things in his videos I had forgotten and when I seen his book while surfing the web I instantly grabbed and dug my nose into it. I have now combined my reading of the book with the videos. I will read a chapter or a section in the book then turn on my Ipod and listen to Tommy and Wayne. This has made me better understand the concepts, theories and a better overall understanding of the game. I advise any serious poker player to read this book and watch his videos. (very entertaining). I have read up to the Table poker section and look forward to reading and understanding this chapter even though I rarley get to play poker at a real table, but I feel it will stil be a needed read for me none the less.

Well I think that pretty much sums up my week and my development is coming along well I look forward to the coming week. Hopeflly we will see a nice turn around, but you never know I could get felted this week lol... O well life is good and poker is just for fun. (for Now) =)

Week 2 Goals:

• Another 100 games (6 tabling) Im pumped to try 6 tabling profitably. I will 6 table till I go broke which isn't much. (about 40 BIs) Not a big deal Im willing to challenge myself and not worry about going broke. I can afford it! PLus I need to 6 table if Im going to reach this goal this week because I am also going to be busy with my studies now that the introductions are done in class and the real work begins. This week is going to be FUN! lol
• Time to move on to the next chapter of Colin Moshmon's book which is Short Handed Play I look forward to this chapter it will be very crucial for me to take in and understand his concepts and use them at the table. Looks like itll be an interesting chapter can't wait to jump in.
• I will also be challenging myself to get the Table poker section of Tommy Angelo's book read and understood. I have read a little bit of it so far and I don't want to put the book down. So I will be reading this chapter as well as watching the video that goes with this section. This shal be interesting.
• And at last my HH's I will continue to go over my hands and take at least an hour away from the tables to critically analyze my games as well as going over the tough spots with the groups in my skype.
• I am still waiting on Greg zerosum79 to reply to me about the video he wants to make with me on the 18man structure on Drag The Bar. I can't wait to be able to pick his brain and help develop my game so I can beat the damn micos. I want to get into the 7s already and make soem real cash or loose it hahaha.

GL at the tables

Was unable to play at all on day 2. So I just read another chapter of Colin Moshmon's SNG book. Read over how to play with a minuscule stack (2-3bb). This book is a must read if one is really interested in trying to grind SNG's. Whether you play 6max or 180man, this book covers the fundamentals and can be applied to a wide array of SNGs. It has really opened my eyes to many spots I have been missing and has gave me a way better of an understanding of the game. Can't wait to dig into Colin's math book because I really need to develop my math skills in poker.

Yesterday I was asked why I waste so much of my time with poker and the question had me thinking for a while as to why I love the game. Made me think why anyone would waste so much time with their hobbies whether it be video games, boardgames, painting, reading and etc. The only logical reason I could come up with is our hobbies are an escape from reality and all the sufferings that come along with it. Of course I'd be lying if I said money isn't a motivation to keep playing this swingy game, but there must be more to it then that since I am still willing to play after being down 50-80bbs. We could say it's my competitive nature whether you want to be believe that being competitive is a natural instinct. I believe it's more then that for me anyways.

For me to answer this question honestly I have to look at my other hobby. I have been training for the past 2 1/2 years in what is called Muay Thai Kickboxing. After the first free day trial I was hooked and could never get away, but why? I don't compete and I don't make money, but I continue to train harder then half of the fighters who do compete. The reason I continue to develop my skills is because I love the art and what it does for my brain and body. It makes me feel great after walking  out of the gym knowing that my brain continues to grow and my body continues to become stronger. It's not the results of my work out that keeps me driving or otherwise I would feel crushed everytime I get beat up when I spar and would probably want to quit.

So this leads me to believe that it isn't competition or money that keeps me coming back.I believe I  kick box and play poker because they are both constantly evolving and changing which means I must continue to use my body and mind. This means that my brain and body is constantly changing and evolving which I believe is for the better. Poker to me is a great brain exercise and I think this is the most important kind of exercise one needs to continue and make sharp decisions in life.

Wow, I didn't think that I would go this deep into this discussion, but I couldn't stop thinking and writing lol.

As for my day:

Grinded only 3 hours so far- down 1.5bbs

Going to take the next hour or so to go over my HH's and off to kickboxing.

Hope to finish my 5 hour sessiion or more after a good work out

Day one: After 20 games

• Down 4.5bbs
• Not a big deal had a couple of run bads, but thought my play was fairly solid.
• For the Next hour or so until I get tired I will be reviewing my hands.

For day one it could have been worse lol. I have been up all day and it is about 4:00am. So I can not expect to play my best at this time of the day. I wanted to get my 5 hour session in though since I have to work tomorrow night from 6:30-430am. When I wake up I'm planning on reading some of moshmon's Sng theory and maybe WOT math series. I lack in the math department hard and wish to make this weakness a strength.

Hey everyone,

First blog ever: Thought I would start off with some weekly,monthly and yearly targets I would like to reach. I wanted to start blogging so I can hold myself accountable for completing the goals I set out. I am an SNG player looking to climb the stakes in the 18mans and maybe mix in some bigger fields as the year goes on.

Yearly Goal: An experiment for me to evolve from a casual player to a part-time player while balancing University,work and kickboxing.

Monthly Target:

1. 500 games (4-tabling): This may change depending on how my schooling goes. It could turn into 1000-1500, but we will see.
   
2. 20hrs of studying HH's
3. 20hrs of studying and developing my skills (vids and books)"perhaps a vid series a month"

Weekly Target:

1. 100 games (4-tabling) again this depends on how much time I can give.
2. 1hr of HH studying with or without a friend
3. 1hr of studying and developing my skills "perhaps a video a day"

I refuse to use a bankroll goal because this can become very tilting when just focusing on an ROI% or how much money I am making. Yes I want to make money in this little journey of mine, but I would rather be more focused on what things are going through my head while playing and making +ev decisions.

I will be obtaining some coaching from Greg (zerosum79) who is part of Team Moshmon. I look forward to being able to work with him and to see if I should invest in a coach to help develop my game.

I hope to really turn around my poker game and achieve most of these goals I have set out for myself and become a solid SNG/MTT player as time goes on.

A little about me: I am 23 years of age and located in Canada. I am currently going to my local University to obtain a social work degree. My hobbies are Muay Thai kickboxing, baseball, football and poker. I have been playing poker since I was 11-12 years old, but haev only been taking it kind of serious for about 2 1/2 years. I have no other further news other then I am a loosing/breakeven player and looking to get my games in to obtain a real sample.