I never ever expected to........

But after a total of 4 years and 5 months I can now confirm that I have finally reached my goal. I have actually turned a zero Bankroll into $10 thousand Dollars. The funny thing is I do not know what to say now, its a weird feeling that after all this time and effort, and yes Pain with loss along the way that I have finally done it. Inside I am over joyed. Not in the fact its the end of the road, or that it's been a long old drag but the good feeling that me, just like any other poker player no special skills to boast about, but me I have actually copied what at the time 4 years ago was a great poker player who had a great poker brain and great bankroll management and that Jesus Ferguson did something at the time I thought was totally impossible for the likes of me to even get close to, but ok he might be accountable for is actions with Full Tilt Poker, but he taught me something that I must admit I could never do and that was how to look after your Bankroll, and with some simple rules stopped me from going broke and joining the thousands of poker players that go broke sometime in there poker lives. I did not just learn from it, but it was in printed into my brain and I have tried with the use of the blog as well tried to install into other poker players old and new. If I managed to alter just 1 person's idea of what Bankroll management is all about and they learned how to manage there Bankroll and not go broke then at least I have accomplished something and this 4 years was well worth it. So what's happened since the last update at the start of the month. To be honest not a lot really. I have spent some time visiting family and the other part struggling to find games to play. In fact I had just spoke to my rake back friend and I had explained the traffic on OnGame was seriously low and I was thinking of moving the challenge over to an Ipoker site and it was done and dusted. I was just waiting for the start of next month and was off... But I still had / have some tournament tickets left, and of course I do like the fast poker games. It was that fast poker game that I finished this challenge. I actually managed to turn just $1 to $3k in just 3 steps. It only took 6 days to turn that into $3k as well, it would of been quicker but the final step is ran just once a week. I managed to turn a step 1 ticket worth $1.05 and won that and received a step 2 ticket worth $14.70. In just 20 minutes I had won that with just 9 runners going for a step 3 ticket worth $210. The final step is only ran once a week so I had to wait 6 days, but I registered and just waited. Just over 2 hours ago 27 players played for x2 $3k packages to Malta. Under the rules of the challenge I could not just register for the final step, so I had to go through the steps route but of course by now you would of realised I actually won the tournament worth $3k. That $3k package combined with my current Bankroll which also includes $500 from that $3k for expenses stands at $7439.83. But I also have tournament tickets worth $618 in my account from Sat's I have won to make a grand total $10557.83. So now what happens, well I will post the final pictures up below and I will carry on I think using the same Bankroll rules. But I also have started my 2nd Jesus challenge on another site just 3 weeks ago. It was an offer to good to miss really, and the fact I have been doing family things for a week out of that 3 weeks, so in theory it only been like 2 weeks of playing, but I have already hit over £50. It was £60 yesterday but losing 3 buy in's in 30 minutes was enough for me today. Of course not full buy in's because that breaks the rules, so it was the lowest amount to buy in @ €3. I think I will start another Blog for the new challenge so keep your eyes peeled. I do not know what to call it yet, but don't be surprised to see 2nd Jesus challenge!! A big thank you for following me over the 4 years and 5 months. It has not been easy for me with loads of personal health issues to fight, but I kept to it, kept posting when I could and never lost sight of this Bankroll Challenge. Once again Thank you and see you on the 2nd challenge Blog.......

I can smell the finish :-0

Well may be not tonight, but its getting close, close as in actually finishing this Jesus challenge. I have been so close this last month, but just could not get that little luck in poker we all need to close it out. I can not actually remember the last update and were I got to in regards all those tournament tickets I had acquired. So I best recap, if memory served me right I had just over $2k in tickets with 2 for the high roller which is played every Tuesday. Actually it looks like I will not be playing anymore either after those two tickets because for some unknown reason they have pulled the free rolls which give them. Anyway, I did play both of them since the last update and it made nice change to play some good poker for once. You can really tell the difference in the level of play with most players buying in direct. What I did not account for was the length of time it took just to reach the cash. The first game I played very well and got the credit for my moves, and so got credit back. So after 5 hours we are hand for hand with the top 12 or so getting paid. Yes I did tighten up because it was a major cash for me especially after winning my ticket via a free roll. But I did cash and I went out in 12th after watching 2 or 3 short stacks double and left me needing to make a move, and it was in the blinds when then SB open shoves and I knew I was or could be ahead of his shoving range with the tight so I make the call, and I show QJ v his 5 6 off. I flop the Queen and its happy days, that is until the turn when the he hits 2 pairs and no help on the river and its curtains, but overall I'm thrilled to finish in the cash, and goes to show I an still play with the best of them on Betsson. I ended cashing for $1019.42. I waited 2 weeks until I played the 2nd ticket. I was not expecting another cash if I'm honest, but I actually went better than the last time. I ended up making the final table. I also never looked at the cash ladders because I was going for the win this time, and I wasted no time in shoving my 9bb into a button raise in the 1st hand of the Final table. I had K10 and again I flopped top pair after making the call. I have no problems with is call because he had A8, but per norm I was rivered by the Ace. No complaints overall, and I think 9th is very respectful. That was worth $1467.96, But I was not the first out on the Final Table, for some bizarre reason a player who I had down as a strong player ended up calling a all in with 7 4 off. He didn't improve v the guys Aces and I jumped $240 in the money tree, but looking back maybe I should of waited. But meh, such as life and those two tournaments boosted the bankroll over the $7k mark.

Moving on from that, I have played the All in Jobbies trying to capture another package and finally put this to bed, but having played about 6 finals since the last update, I still have not won the package. I might add though I have not bought into the final Sat which does cost $210 a throw, I as always play within the bankroll which means I have been playing a lot of the $14-70 Sat's. But I don't play all of them, I look each night, and if I see one with less than 10 runners I normally jump. That way you only have to win 1 hand instead of 2 with more than 10 players entered. I even played it just 2 days ago after winning my final ticket at the first attempt last week. Other than that I have been pretty quiet on the tables, and to be honest a bit of boredom sets in, but its mainly to do with nothing to play that's worth playing. The traffic seems to be really low recently. I have played the $5 rebuy @ 7pm a few times and normally go pretty deep in that, but nothing to write up about, no final tables recently, but again no real volume. Even the sit n go Hyper turbo's have gone quiet, which recently was my main rake back earner. But in the end I still think that I can close this out with just 1 decent run in a higher tournament, and I still have x6 $54 tickets along with a new Saturday ticket worth $100 and a $200 ticket for the Sunday Major. But I have also lost a bit of cash since the last update, which broke down is nothing since the update in May, and just today I have dipped below the $7k cash in my account, but with the tournament tickets I hold in theory I am still over the $7k. I just need to re think what I want to do. Just checking my Poker tracker and it seems I have only played 19 hands on the cash tables since the last update, but surprising I have played 291 Sit N go's since the last update, but bearing in mind that counts everything, the $1-05 all in's to the $100 hyper turbo HU, so a vast difference between stakes, but I was looking for action, and also if I was having a bad session I would normally carry on, and we are talking hyper turbo's so I can go through quite a few in a short space of time. I played 227 stt's in June, 55 in July and just 9 at the moment in August. I know its still not picking up every tournament, because both the high rollers I played have me down with no cashes, but if I need to double check anything I can purchase Shark Scope and look everything up there. I mean why would I have to lie about anything to do with this challenge, I would know deep down that once it is completed I know that I followed the rules till the end, and be proud of that fact as well, but 110 entries in this blog should back up everything I write about as well. I don't know, but some day someone might just want to have a closer look, and again I should update this more often, and now I updating it, I will continue to do so at the end of every month. Just to mention though, I have already set the 2nd Jesus challenge up and I'm currently playing free rolls on Bet Victor to get myself under way, but I will not be taking that so serious at the moment until this is finished, but the nice €1.5k is a nice prize every month, and would go a very long way in my 2nd attempt, only this time I want to make sure I do it within 2 years not like 4 years and counting with this, but for the regular readers of this will know why its taken me so long. If I counted the days I have played I'm sure it would reach under 2 years currently, but overall it does not matter how long it takes, just as long as it done properly. So you have the figures, but the closing figure on my challenge currently stands at........... $6997.28 and that's on the 6th August 2013. More to come towards the need of the month, unless of course I fluke a session and win big.......

F is for frustration

What a month this April has been. I have played the most poker for a long time, with me beating the volume for last month and points collected by at least double, and I thought March was a good month. There have been high and lows, there has been tears of joy, and also tears of sadness with frustration as well. I have played the $1 STT and I have played the hyper $100 HU to. I have played free-rolls and I have played $210 tournaments. I have played HU cash and I have played the $100 NL cash tables. So you can see I have played a wide range, and thus I have collected loads of points, which means loads of rake-back next month. But I really want to make the next level on the VIP ladder and that means I have about 700 to go, but 2 days later sadly I did not make the points. To be honest I think I may of been worn out and could not find the motivation to carry me for the last couple of days, but hey not to worry, it just gives me something to aim for in May. Carrying on from last month, and I played loads of heads up on the $28 STT, but did not quite run as good as the previous month. Maybe peeps did a bit of homework on my plays via there trackers, but even the fish I played found triple barreling in there arsenal this month, which of course makes it harder to fathom out. Overall I was still a winning player at those levels, but nothing like the last month. I also found it a tad hard trying to find games later on in the night, so found myself playing 14's but also the 54's though not many, but also had a session in the 100's. Under the rules of the challenge, I could not use more than 2% of my bankroll, which for the 100's was $5000. I did come close to hitting that figure but overall I stayed 3 buy ins above it. But the reason for the higher buy in was to play a guy I use to crush on the 28's, he was after 1st place in the monthly point race for the $10k first place cash, hence why he was playing that high. But overall I ended the session 2 games up over roughly 17 games, but of course when your rake is $5.00 per game it worked out at just over the one buy in up, but great for rake-back I didn't feel to confident towards the end of the month playing the HU, so I fell back a bit. Like I said the players must of done there homework on me, but meh. I mention F is for frustration, and if I tell you that I was just 1 card away from completing my Jesus challenge, you sort of get an idea why I am a bit gutted.... One card ffs. It's fair knowledge I like to play the all in coin flip sats, and in order for me to play the $200+ buy in tournaments I have to win some of these, or play the normal speed sats which after you've played hyper, just don't cut it anymore. Anyways, after failing for something like 30 odd $14-70 all in sats just to get a $210 ticket to be able to play the final flip tournament was proving to be so frustrating and expensive as well of course, but like all good things, when you hit one, you hit another straight after, so I ended up with 2 final tickets, and the prize was a $3k package to Malta in September this year. Sunday arrived, and not like the week before when I missed it..... Waited until the last seconds to reg. I don't know if it makes any difference or not, but I have won twice by being the last to reg. Cards are dealt and I have AJ suited, pretty good starting hand, and I avoid the river outs and with just 30 entrants on 10 seater tables that means 3 players reach the final table with 2 packages worth 3k. So I was confused when there were just 2 of us there and the cards where dealt again, with my J4 off v 10 3 off. Now with me saying I was 1 card away from finishing this, you can guess I was ahead until the river came, and of course the 10 hit and I was out, but then the other player turned up and he did not even have to play the last hand because I was out now. I could not understand it, I should not of played the hand until 3 of us where sat down, and I feel I was cheated somehat. Everything was equal, the runners on the same tables, the amount of time to deal the cards. Even if it was a chopped pot, they would still be moved to the next table, but with just there chopped pots, but that didn't even happen, with the guy sitting down with the full 10 chips. So one card from winning fair and square..... I have wrote to support who then forwarded the complaint from me to OnGame and I still wait there response. I very much doubt there going to give me the prize, because I was still only 66% to win even with 3 of us playing the final hand. But I wait and see, and knowing my luck nothing will come off it. I do have another chance with another ticket this Sunday but of course it's all luck with these, but this last thing I keep doing is proving a good thing, I have now bubbled twice and won twice, and I bet I have only played 7 of these final flip tournaments. I did however decide to upgrade my tracker to the latest poker tracker 4, but it seems like that was a mistake as well. It should of been a simple transfer over from poker tracker 3, but for some reason, most of my hands and results are nowhere to be seen. I have tried everything, and support want to do a remote session, so they can see what's going on. I will but I have a lot going on at the moment, so there going to have to wait. But I have noticed, it doesn't even collect all the data from the tournaments I have just played. The above coin flip for the package shows just one hand and thats the first hand, nothing about the second hand at all. I guess because its new there are going to be bugs that need fixing, but its defo wrecking my database for sure. The one good thing about all this play in April is the free-rolls that you are eligible for. If you hit 200 points from Sunday to Sunday you get into a $1k free-roll with about 120 runners in, and if you manage 500 points in a week, you get into the VIP free-roll which is top 3 win a $525 tournament ticket. I can not recall if I wrote in the last blog, but I managed to both in one week, and that's not to play both by the way, but managed to finish 3rd in the cash free-roll for $130 and then finished in the top 3 for the $525 ticket. Not bad for nothing. The VIP normally gets on average 30 runners or so, but of course it takes some doing to get to the 500 points in a week, so there not numpties, so it felt extra good that I could play and beat these players. But, only last week I managed to win my 2nd VIP $525 ticket, and so I now have 2. There is only one tournament a week that has that price ticket, and that is the Tuesday high roller. Unless there is some series going on and then they add extra $525 tournaments, but they have none running at the moment. Also they don't have a long shelf live, with just 4 weeks from the time you win to actually playing. With the lesser value tickets, you normally get 90 days from the time you win the ticket. I also managed to win a $165 Grand Prix ticket. I was watching the lobby and there was a freeze out $22 hyper sat into the said tournament, and with just 1 minute left to reg, there was just 1 player sat in. I waited and waited, and you normally get 2 or 3 jumping in the last seconds, but nothing. Just as long as more than 1 enter, the sat will still play, so of course with the last second on me and still just 1 player I registered and was chuffed when it was just me and him. Within the first 2 hands I knew he wasn't all that just by him limping HU. And within 2 minutes it was all over and thank you very much. To top it off, I played a hyper $5 rebuy Sat to win a $320 live event tournament ticket. I like OnGame because they do not offer late reg, so once it starts you know exactly how many you need to beat, and on this time it was about 15 or so. I re bought twice and took the add on and with just the 1 winner being paid it was all out attack when it was needed. All my hands held up, and went to HU even in chips. He folded to many of my button raises, so when I took a gamble and lost it, all it did was put us even again. Only the second time I actually hit my ace on the turn to cripple his hand of 66 I think it was and that was that, happy days. I have in tournament tickets alone $1750 worth, and with $5550 in cash it's way over the 7.3k, but could be over that if I knew the exact figures. So it's just 2.7k left to go, which is why F is for frustration....... This first week of May has been slow for me. I have hardly played and its now the 5th. I have not been to well, and have really struggled to sleep recently since the change of one of my meds. On top of that I have been getting prepared for my back op which is in a weeks time, and no doubt that will cause me more set back in volume, but to be honest, with the volume I played in April I guess it's not that bad an idea. Below is a screenshot of my account page, and you can see the tickets I have, combined with the cash and you can see I just need to convert those tickets into some sort of cash via the tournaments, and fingers crossed, my Jesus $10k challenge will be done and dusted. Please please please let it happen !!!

April here we come

Trying to find time to play the challenge is my main concern recently, but thats always the problem. Its normally the health that stops me. But since mum died I have had a lot of stuff going on regards family and making sure everyone is ok. I'm now the power of Attorney over Gran and her money, which I didn't realise is actually a pain in the arse to maintain, with having to write everything down that has got to do with her cash. On top of that I have to look after my special needs brother, who is getting better at doing things for himself, but then there's a basic laspe like buying ice lollies from the shop and leaving them on the table instead of putting them into the freezer, and thus having no lollies. School boy errors, but he should know this sort of thing, so I have to make sure I have my wits about and do everything else that needs to be done regards running a house on top of all that, which involves travelling quite regular up north. At the moment its about every 10 days or so and staying up to a week at a time. I have managed to have BroadBand installed and on the last trip set up another desktop with my Laptop there as well. But had to wait 6 weeks after the hub arrived before it was all working correctly, but its all done now. Sadly I only have the 1 screen at the moment, and not really had a chance to play poker up there yet to any degree. But next trip I should be good to go. I have however managed to play probably the most poker on the challenge to date during last month. I know I said I havent played much, but when your playing hyper Heads up Sit n go's its surprising how much rake and points you rack up. On top of that I found I was crushing the game at the $28 level, and during March I had played a total of 87 games HU Hypers with a min of $28 buy in. I won 55 and lost 32 so the maths work out a 19.91% ROI with a net win of $493.10. There are some $56 games in there as well, and just checking I played 3 and won 3. I know if I carry on like this I will run out of people to play. I am already finding it harder to find players. I'm hoping its just cos of the Easter holidays. But I have also been trying in vain to win myself a package to Marbella to play the GSOP and thats cost me big time, and still no seat, not even to the online final on a Sunday. I must of played roughly 30 $14.70 sats during March and lost everyone. That sort of streak defo eats into any profit I might of made. I have also been testing thr water in the 6 max cash games up to $1 tables, and if I play with no fear I can way handle myself there to. But its the 5/6 man hyper sit n go's I like as well. I read a peice in the pokerplayer Magazine about some guy on stars whos going for x8 Super Nova Elite in a year, and he plays just hyper 6 man STT's from $100 min upto $1000. I watched him for a while and if hes happy making just 2% pre rakeback then there is hope for me yet. I play a very sim way and range, and its not about the cards, more like position and pressure. You have to remember, at worst v any 2 cards your still a 35% chance of winning the hand, and thats if of course you get a call. Its easy shoving your stack in with 2 3 off, but its a complete different thing calling with 2 3 off and thats how he makes it work for him. But this guy is playing like 15 at a time, where on OnGame your lucky to get 1 game per 10 minutes. But like mentioned, I played or that should read I raked the most I have in any month of this challenge in March, and to come out of it up is a bonus. I actually managed to win a couple of Sats as well and so now have tournament tickets for $108 and $200. I will be looking to play those in the forth coming month and instead of sitting on them I can close this out with a final table in either, now that would be good..... I have just remembered though, I have played a little on Microgamming via Betsson and thats a € site. I recall dropping €100 on the first hand with the dreaded KK v AA and I ended up almost €160 in the hole before I called it quits, so that wasnt fun at all. Overall I don't know exactly how much the roll is, but I know its dropped below the $4000 mark which I think I mentioned last update. But with everything combined I'm probably looking at $3500 ish could be a little more but not much more I dont think. Anyways thats the update for this month, and hopefully I'll update again next month. Thanks for reading per norm. Plaza

Poker is so frustrating

I try so hard to give this my all and actually want to succeed and finally finish this challenge, but whenever I try there is something, or someone who's going to screw it up for me.... To be honest I haven't been running that well since the last update, and I have now used up all my tickets which I carried over from last year. The biggest killer was the $320 ticket I had and failed to convert into anything, so that was a sizeable chunk gone in an instant. But I did email support and try and get the expiry date moved. I can't recall if I mentioned this in the last update, but it wasn't granted, and I had a rant so it was no surprise I crashed and failed with that ticket. But I was also starting to run bad in the hyper turbo sit n go's I enjoyed playing. I know there huge variance types of games but I felt I wasn't getting the run of the green so to speak and rather chase my losses I decided to take a break from those. The traffic for the other games is so pants on OnGame it's not worth it, so I have played little since the the tournament above. But this weekend just gone I had to play the last of my tickets, and while the GSOP Series is running it was a good chance if I ran well I could close this challenge out. So I played the GrandPrix on Saturday with 40k GTD with my ticket, and after, granted wanting to make the money after playing for 5 hrs and a desperate confidence boost I folded my way to the cash. But only because everyone else was doing the same thing, and with top 46 players getting paid and me sitting with 12 bb and still in the top 30 overall sorted made me play that way. So combined with all that I was happy to fold to the cash. But once I cashed I didn't go stupid and want to double up straight away and tried to pick my spots, but of course all the other short stacks were just lumping it in. I wasn't bothered about laddering and eventually blind on blind with me holding Ace six off in the BB was an instant jam/call and I guess him holding Jack Ten was most likely going to call my shove after his raise anyways. That's what happened and he turned the Ten and that was me out in 34th for $278 I think it was. Gutted my hand didn't hold up, but overall pleased I manage to cash and of course I still had another ticket for the following day into the 200k. So after failing to land a final GSOP Marbella all in ticket I decided I was going to play the 200k and also the mini version but was 90% cheaper with the same structure. I played good steady poker and I defo think my post flop poker has improved loads over the recent 12 months or so after reading and watching videos, but it only takes a brief bit of madness and its all over...... Playing for 4 1/2 hrs and doing pretty good in both tournaments and still about 150 from both cashes I then play my Ace King in the smaller game. Granted it was 2nd raise in 2 hands and wasn't surprised to get 3 bet in late position, I make my 4 bet and leave half my stack behind which is enough to tell him it's going in if he wants to play ball. He does jam and I make the call, but WTF he turns over 9 6 off. Yes of course he hits the turn and I'm out . I resist the urge to call him a fucking moron, but inside I'm so pissed off and I instantly raise on the 200k table with Jack Ten suited, I get 3 bet by the guy next me and I'm still fuming so 4 bet and he shoves and I call. He turns over queens and that's me out. Looking back of course I'm gutted. I could of made such a deep run in the 200k and was sitting in about 150th about 100 from the money with top 220 being paid. But I also wanted to make an effort this time round to actually not bother about just cashing and go for it if I had the cards or the position to add chips to my stack. In hindsight it was a simple fold preflop, but I can't undo something that's already been done. I guess I'm just human after all. I have just remembered another key hand as well which stands out and when your running bad, your running bad. I have QQ and I get 2 callers and the flop comes Q 6 7 rainbow and I make the cont bet and get shoved on, happy days. I obv make the call and very happy to see him with 6 7 suited. I have him totally crushed, but the turn brings another heart to give him a flush draw, and yup the river brings another heart to take the pot. I get back down to 8bb and totally gutted. But I do make the comeback and manage to treble up 20 mins or so later to put me back in the game. But it's so annoying for you to watch the sickout kid then go on a huge tear and collect chips for almost every player. Talk about thin edges and all that.... But overall I'm happy today, mainly down to reading an article about Jake Cody who was asked why he never seems to go on tilt, and just says, if I played well that's all I can do. He has got a point, but its hard sometimes to think about what might of been, and the old saying is just a classic.... Lives are changed forever on the turn of a card, how so true...... Overall the challenge bankroll is still well below the 5k I had at the start of the year, and of course playing these three big ticket tournaments with little reward was always going to hit hard, but its still pretty good at about $4300. I say about because its split between OnGame and MIcrogamming but with the same poker site and the latter being in €. I don't know which direction to take next. I have a lot of promotions going on at the minute with other sites so time and traffic issues are the key at the moment, but I will update when I can, until next time thanks for reading...

Happy New Year

Wow, is it really that long since the last post. Well I am sorry for that, but it is with deep regret that the end of last year I just wish never happened. I'll explain in minute, but first the Jesus Challange is still on. I don't know if I mentioned it in the last entry but I have had to move it yet again due to lack of traffic. I moved over to Betsson in September I think it was, and was doing ok, and by the end of the new I had hit the $5k mark. But within that 5k there were tickets for tournaments which I had won and 1 was for a $320 tourney with a couple for $200 and $160 which all added up and took me over the $5k. I played a lot of Sit n go's cos the cash was a little slow in filling up, although the 6 man tables where pretty full all the time, but I'm not much of a short game player, so full ring it was, so it was rare I played cash. So like I said I was doing ok and managed to reach 5k with the tickets included in that figure. But then Jan started and I was forced to play some of the tickets because they would not move the expiry dates for me, because I was not feeling up to it, well to be honest when your mum dies, yes sad to say she passed away in Nov last year, and I have lost the plot with poker. Its simply not the first thing I think about these days, and can not motivate myself to play. I still have a load of stuff to sort out cos of mum's death, which means I have to travel up north to my home town quite often and spend time up there and try and sort my brother out who has special needs who lived with mum. On top of that I still have the effects of the medication and the problem the back causes me. On top of all that, yes there is more. But when I returned back from Vegas in Oct I caught a virus from Jo. Nothing really, her mate had it for 3 days and felt ok after that. Well 9 weeks later, yes 9 weeks later I just managed to get over it. So that was on top of Mum dying, op top of my back killing, on top of my medication and the nice side effects, and also my gran who was my mum's mum still in the care home and now me being her next of Kin. But it gets better still. After the goverment changed the welfare law in April 2012, my ESA ( Employment Support Allowance ) was stopped because I was put into the work releated group, and I didnt know at the time, but I thought it meant because I had suffered at work and was on the sick. But no, it was because they thought I was able to work and so put me in that group. Of course I didnt know this till they stopped my money and I asked why. So for 10 months now I have been asking to be moved into the support group, which lets you carry on receiving your ESA. But I have never had anything back from them in 10 months. At first it was because I had to wait until it was my turn, and that turned out to be December, yes December..... I have 3 times sent in supporting documents from the hosptial, GP and counsellor along with page after page of noted from me, but yet still nothing from them. So I think Its off to the CAB to get help. I even wrote to Cameroon, and was sent a reply by his aid with a sheet of paper telling me to do the stuff I had already done. But due to all thats gone on I never sent another letter, which I should do when I have the capicity to do it. I'm so depressed its unreal, but under the circumstances, its amazing I'm still alive. So sorry for the lack of updates, but I'm sure you understand why now, and although I play a little poker, its nothing I would like to play and after about 30 minutes I come off, sometimes during tournaments and just sit out and close down. I have just sent a link to my phone which lets me update the blog from there now, so the updates should be more frequent although the poker might not be much. Shit happens I know, but come on I must of been a bad one in my previous life is all I can say........ Speak soon peeps and thanks for reading. Plaza

Doesnt time fly !!!!!!!

Well its the 1st August today, and although since the last update has been sometime ago to me it doesnt feel that long. But since the last update, obv the poker has been fits and starts. With no real grinding done. But recently I have tried to play when I can and over the last month or so I am starting to want to get back to it and used today as a benchmark for that. So since the last update, I have been in hospital for 2 weeks with a view to having a spinal cord modulator implant fitted. Its still early days for that and have to go through a trail in about 2 months time and if the pain reduces by 50% or more during the trail I can then have full implant about Jan next year. Its not a cure, but if full implant is fitted it means I can drop the pain medication to hopefully give me back some sort of life instead of all the nasty side effects I still suffer from on a daily basis. Thats basically it healthwise, so fingers crossed on the implant..... Back to poker, I find it very hard to sit and play and for more than 90 mins at a time. This obv restricts what I can play, but over the last week I have managed to play a bit on the challenge. But I have also on a couple of occasions played the all in sat's on a Sun to try and increase the b/roll to over the 4k but bad results in that have cost me. Currently the b/roll is €3652.92. I would love dearly to smash that 4k this month, and thats my motivation fingers crossed in hitting that target. I mentioned playing, but I didnt mention the levels, and I have played even has high as €1/€2 with a sit down of €180 to keep within the rules. Ok it was only about 30 hands before the table broke but my style has got a lot more aggressive over the last few months and think nothing of tripple barrelling bluff's at whatever levels I play. I'm just firing up Poker tracker to give you figures since the last update. There not huge figures due to the above statements. Ok since April I managed a total of 1791 hands in April with a profit of €100.27. May was just 239 hands with a loss of 37c. No play at all in June. July was my mini comeback, but still just 2457 with a profit of €11.36. I played just 9 days in July though with 5 winning days to 4 loss. Your only talking about a buy in up or down on the €10 tables. But I can only play the tables that have seats open, so cant make higher buy in levels if there not there, but like I said I will play anything up to 1/2. The badbeat jackpot I told you about with now a mini jackpot was always being won and never say it get any higher than €4k for the mini, but they defo must of done something to RNG because its now a whopping €39.6k. If I hit that of course that the challenge over, which could be a nice incentive to plod on this month. Only time will tell if I can manage to keep going, and I hope I can grind away a bit more than recent months. I do have to go away up north to see family from tomorrow which sucks, but 1 day at a time 1 day at a time...... Thanks for reading.

Pain Stops Play

Yes its back, and TBH I havent play a single hand of poker for 3 days now, and for peeps who know me, know that something must be wrong for me not to play any poker. Its a real shitter, but I just can't do it at the moment and its like April will be just a wash out now and hope for a recovery in May. I am also away for a week from this Sunday so again nothing for next week anyways. I just don't feel right and we all know you need a clear head if your going to make the correct decisions. I have a few things on my mind to top everything off which I won't bore you with but needless to say its not good stuff !! Your best off checking back in just over a week and hopefully the break up north might do me some good, but I cant see it, but you never know. Sorry there is nothing to read about the challenge, but I thought I might as well set the record straight and save you checking back day after day.

Hmmmmm

Exactly that, nothing much has happened since the last update. Played 351 hands in April thus far in 4 sessions or days whichever is the correct term. But still out of those 351 hands I am up just shy of 5 buy ins. I think its a case of hitting and running to be honest, and of course trying to fit it in while feeling ok. Been playing really well in both tourney's and cash. The tourney's obv being the major plus side. Managed another 2 cashes tonight, one was playing the €2 rebuy with €4k GTD with a max of 5 rebuys allowed. Top 90 cashed and I finished 70th when I was in with JJ v AK with the Ace on the river for a top 20 place. I was surprised I have never bothered with this tourney before with 1st getting €800. It wasn't much of a cash when I shelled out €6 in total but at least I was ahead and thats all you can do. The 2nd cash was a super turbo and just missed out on a Final table finishing 13th I think, not quite sure and wasn't that bothered to check. There is one thing that narked me today, I dont know if I have mentioned this but my rakeback for the month still has not been paid, so I started checking it out with emails and Live chat. Only to be told I had not raked the the min of €100. Although the site I use to track my rakeback said 125.60 and was due just short of €70 which I aint to pleased about. Apprently the site is calculated in dollars and not Euro's so the figures obv didn't match. I was just €2.50 short of the 100 but it was not my fault and if known I could of easily got passed that. Come on I played over 11.5k hands last month and with all the tournaments I played. But fair play to my Affailate, he said he was going to sort something out for me and was talking about 30% poss more out of his own pocket. I did say no, but he thinks I'm a decent fella ( lol ), well I am really !! So thats good of him and now I know I need to rake about $130. I need to put my foot down a bit cos I am due to go up north in 8 days for about a week and I wont be playing on Opoker thats for sure. I might be tempted to come back early but depends on circumstances. I really want to get into my dealing in shares and part of the trip up north is get some funds together in order for me to try my hand. Pretty weird at the moment cos its Good Friday but feels like a Sunday but yet tomorrow is Saturday. I dont know what the plans are for tomorrow poker wise, but I defo need to put some volume together. I'm just €200 short now of my next goal of €4k which was not even in my plans for 2012, so what a morale boost that would be, either before I go up North or after, I aint to fussy.....

Wow, didn't realise it was over a week ago.

So sorry if you've been back checking for any updates over the last week or so, I didn't realise it was over a weel ago. I have updated the thread @ pokerplayersplace.com but thats only updated every 2 weeks or so. Where this is should* be updated more regular. So what's been happening then, quite a bit to be honest. Not all good but I can't do anything about that and it's the reason for the lack of updates on here, and yes its the back again. Flaring up more and more and its starting to scare the lifing crap out of me. I can't stand for more than 2 mins in the same spot now without dire pain and once I do sit its still killing and takes an age to wear off. But Meh I aint dead yet so plenty more poker left in me yet :) So yes on to the poker and another month over. I have offically made it to 3 yrs doing this and although 2011 was almost a complete wipeout I still feel chuffed to have made it thus far from nothing. I still remember playing the KS POKER FREEROLLS, 3 times a week for a few cents to then play the 10c rebuy, of those were the days. Of course I do still play the 10c, but its the cash tables for me now and said before I really should be playing much higher, but I know my cash game is not my strongest so instead of thinking I can play higher and trying to be the bigshot that grew it all from nothing. I am not afraid to admit it and there is no big ego for me to compete with. Its about Bankroll Management and nothing more, but I think to me anyways it's about how to manage the bankroll knowing I am more than rolled enough to play higher, but also knowing that the standard by playing higher is a lot better than the limit I play mostly, and that being the 10nl game. Yes I take shots every now and then with a degree of sucess, but also a loss, like last month and then tried all month to try and claw it back. I amost made it back into the green and if I was not so ill towards the back end of the month I am sure I could of gotten that green for the month, but I didnt but over all I can take the half a buy in down over the month, but to me it was the volume I put it. I defo wanted to make 10k in the month, and was thrilled to see I had made it over 11k for the month. But what the cash tables failed to do the Mtt's defo made up for it. With previous Sat win for €85, the 2nd in the Bounty €5 but also a massive win in the €10 rebuy I played Monday morning. Yes you read it right Monday Morning. I have been trying to get up earlier and earlier to get use to it for when I go into hospital on the 2nd July for 2 weeks. But I still need to have a nap at least twice a day during the morning get up's so not quite there yet, but still loads of time to get ready for it. So yes managed to win the tourney and collect €400 odd. So not only a good month in March with an overall increase of €306.62, but April is off to a flyer to. Still not managed any volume of cash yet just 100 hands or so, but to be fair when I fire the poker site up there is less than 1k players online, so I'm always going to suffer trying to find enough tables to play, and like mentioned I need at least 2 naps during the day which if I was grinding away would have to stop to sleep. So that's about it and now up to date with everything. I will have a screenshot of the winning tourney in my next update cos it needs loading up and can't be arsed right now. But for the doubter's out there, not like there is any, but you can check the Sharkscope out, and I now have a whale swishing its tail next to my username of PlazaPPP on the IPN network. If you do, check-out the spike in my graph. Looks like Everest :) Adios

Monday Monday

Meh nothing much to blog about, but its something to do while playing the nightly 8k which would of been easier to just buy into, after spending €20 on the sat's and thought just 1 more abd before long yes it was €20. Played a bit of cash this morning, nothing much just 263 hands, but managed a buy in up which was 2 but got a bit too big for my boots and blew 1 off. Again nothing like the volume I wanted to put in, but its a bit extra. I keep seeing all the all in's on the 8k but I have nothing to call with. Played just over an hour and still not busted anyone, and just got below the starting stack. Then I just got dealt AQ which is the best hand all night, and it's folded round to my raise and pick up 1 limper and the blinds. 2 hands later and I call UTG +1 with KJ after someone was almost out and fancy the bounty. Anyways he folds and 4 see the flop of J24 rainbow giving me top pr. UTG checks and I bet half my stack giving the signal I will call a shove and have no fold equity. I get 1 call and the turn is a Queen and I just lump it in and surprised to see him fold, and I have now got 4.5k in chips and over 20bb. Currently have 55 on the BB with a small raise then a shove and a re-shove means I fold my 55. 99 v JJ and the 99 shorty wins with his 2 outer..... Last 3 hands I have chased the bounties and I have missed them twice to knock me down to 12BB. But just called an all in with A7 off to a 8BB shove and pleased everyone folds to my shove to isolate and he flips Q10, I have to aviod the flush draw on the river but boom, I take my 1st Bounty. Now I have AA in Mid and small raise called by 2 and the flop is a mare of KJ10 I almost pot bet and get 1 caller and the turn is the 9. I check it hope to see a check behind, but the small bet he puts out makes me think maybe he hasn't the Straight and is on the flush draw. I decide to shove although 10BB left and I'm wrong he does have the Queen with a jack and that is that I'm out. He just had me covered. I took the chance he didnt have it and win that pot I am a contender with a healthy chip stack. But never mind, Poker it's a funny old game. But makes a change of me just saying the same old story over and over and actually played a few hands with me. Thats Prob me done for the night after felling a tad sleepy, but will see if any juicy games left.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Its not been the best week of my life regards health, and its kind of put a stop to what was a good looking month volume wise. Although the time I have played have been very good, with the 2nd place in my last post and binked a Hyper turbo sat into the Sundays's main 50k Bounty. But I reg'd myself into it just incase I binked it and then could take the money. Which like I mentioned managed to do, and I was still yuk'y and still feel meh at 9-23pm on Sunday night. I did really want a crack at the Sun Major and I will be playing more of those Sat's. Still it was a nice €85 added to the overall total.......

Not bad for €3.50. The cash game has suffered like mentioned, but decided to test the water again at the 25nl, and its defo a lot stronger play wise. People were just not folding and I was getting 3 bet which doesnt happen at the 10nl unless they have a monster. I might carry on for a while longer at the 25nl and take stock after the month has finished. Or try it for the 1st 2 weeks of April and again take stock of the amount lost comapared to the rake generated. I managed to sat into the nightly 8k at the 1st attempt today which is kind of a good move considering I bricked the last 3 days or so. Still pleased with the overall performanace of this year but I just wish I was well enough for longer to get a proper grip. Anyways weekend is over for me poker wise after getting a tad greedy in the 8k after 45 mins of folding, when I shorty 3 bet shove a opening raise and I thought I could get the raiser to fold to my shove with my KJ. It might of worked if he hadn't AK which duly held up v the other guy's AQ so a nice double Bounty for him. Yeah I wasnt in the right mindset but I shouldn't be throwing my tourney life away like that.

So for my 100th Post.......

It's fitting that I have good news for once....... Being though this is my 100th Entry on the blog. But it nearly wasn't too be, because during the Programme Eggheads I suddenly hit with jolts of intense massive pain in my back. So much I was screaming it was that bad. I kid you not it was not nice, so I tried to make it over to the sofa-bed and it got worse if ever such a thing was possible. Lying on back was a no no, side no no, swopping sides again no no, but it did start to sub-side a little, enough for me to make upstairs and get to the bed before I passed out with the pain. Yes it was that bad....... I don't know what brought it on I didn't do anything sudden or contort my body in anyway. Just thankful I was in doors. The meds started to kick in pretty quick and thank god it did calm down. I rested on the bed for about an hour and thought I'll see how it goes back downstairs, and touch wood it didn't flare back up. By that time it was 7-55pm and the only thing worth playing apart from the nightly 8k Bounty was the 8pm ( same time as the 8k ) €5 bounty game. Its a little faster, no its a lot faster with levels removed from the 8k and only 1500 chips instead of the 2k in the nightly 8k. I also think the blinds are 10 mins compared to 12 for the 8k. Anyways I thought go on, I had not played this one for a while because yes the fact its a bit like the Lottery. Players tend to shove with anything and get called by all ranges just so they have there bounty which is half the buy in €2.50, and you only recieve 75% of that, but it doesnt deter the fish and calling stations and its not long into it I remembered why I stopped playing it....... I won't bore you with any hands, needless to say my big hands held up, and I saw myself reach the cash 19th out of 30 left. I picked up about 3 or 4 bounties, and again before long I was on the Final table with 9 of us because I knocked out the 10th place before tha tables merged. I checked the payouts and nothing was worth much until you reached 3rd, but I still played my game and picked my spots. I called a SB shove into my BB with me holding Q9 and turned over K9 and he doubled which left me 6th of 6th, again I didnt panic and 1 double I was back in 3rd when again my hand held over KQ V my A6. It was a bit of shove or fold for about 20 minutes and the massive chip leader coming into the Final table picked off 2 more and me 1 to leave us 3 handed. I was only 1 double up away of the other 2 and managed that when again my hand held up, then all of a sudden the massive chip leader was now 3rd. The other 2 got it in pre with new chip leader limped called the shove with KK v 77 and that was that, I was HU and about 4/1 dog. I did need a bit of luck but within 2 hands I was railed after both times he flopped top pr to my 2nd pair. No complaints really and was happy with how I played. So I managed to collect 8 bounties and with 2nd place I collected a total of €105.82. The winner received €54 more but I can live with that. The total B/roll now stands @ €3256.16. I was pleased I managed to make it to the end without anymore Spazzy fits. It wasn't nice thats for sure............ Thanks for reading and check back soon to see what else I get to luckbox :)

Been a struggle of late.....

Yes it has been a struggle of late and mentioned in a previous post that my health sometimes stops me from feeling like playing poker, so hence the no post of late. I feel tonights is worth a new post just so you know I am still trying very hard to over come the pressure I feel everyday in my head and body. I hate playing when my heart just isnt 100% , but I must plod on, and I want to plod on. But we all know poker is and can be very cruel, and again it shows its ugly head. Why cant I run like the Cheeses Monster who binked a $22 tourney yesterday for $20k. I guess its because his volume puts mine to shame really, and the guy deserves everything he wins. But even he is mixed up with backing and make up, so its not all plain sailing even for the likes of the Cheeses Monster. So back to my little world of 10c cash tables and trying to Sat into the bigger tourney's on offer..... I just dont have the guts to buy in every night into the bigger tourney's, I dont know why, well I do its because I am shit scared of dropping like €100 and knowing the time it would take me to grind it back up. I know I need to play bigger or I might not ever make this 10k...... But tonight was again a little nearer the target, note the little*. I managed to bag myself a seat in the nightly €33 Bounty for just €3.30 when I binked the river flush with my 9 of clubs on a 4 club board. Not bad considering 10 seats all in and no-one had the 10, Jack, Queen , King or Ace of Clubs so thats my little luck. So by 7-55pm I had settled in and cracked open x6 cash tables, with 1 being a little higher than normal of 12/25c. For the life of me could not hit a hand on that game if my life depended on it. But I held out and I was determined to play all 6 cash tables while still in the Bounty game. The fact I played a total of 1150 hands during my Bounty game should give you a clue to what happened...... I played good even folding twice UTG with AQ and both times would of had to make some tricky decisions. Yes I got lucky in 1 hand when I shoved to Isloate a shorty with my A5 suited which I had raised with UTG +1 I think. Its something I dont make a habbit of doing, but just throw a curve ball in now and again. The guy to my left tanked for ages and made the call with JJ. Shorty had K10 I think or sim. The turn bringing the Ace and I collected a big pot plus a bounty. But of course it works both ways and not long after I have Ace 10 in Mid Position and BB calls and the flop is Ace 10 2. Money goes in on the turn and he shows Ace Jack and Boom the Jack hits on the river. Cost me another bounty. But swings and roundabouts I guess. I take another 2 bounties making a total of 3 and cashed lying 19th out of 40. But the AQ was my demon and should of folded it pre-flop but when a shorty is all in and your on the SB and have him covered with about 40BB I dont hesitate to shove and Isolate, come on how many times does the Table chip leader have a hand after you? Not many, prob 1 in 50 times, well that 1 in 50 was this time and he flips 99 I miss and just like that I am out. Out in 33rd, Yes I collected €40 for the bounties and €21 for the cashing. Yes not bad for €3.30, but it should of been more for sure..... So of course when I go out I also close all the cash games. Frustrating session in the cash for sure, and it looked like a couple of players defo had me marked for something because they out played me time after time, even when I had the AA for the 1st and only time tonight They lost to KK. But overall happy with the volume of 1150 hands and I can handle the loss of €16, yes another red blip on the month's chart but you cant win them all...... Overall happy with tonight, but I just wonder what could of been........

No Poker for 2 days wow

Yes, the title says it all. I havent been too clever but I dont want it to spoil everything, and although I am struggling I dont want to go back to how I was 2 weeks ago. Also a little mini break should do me more good if anything. I hit the 3k mark on the challenge and I guess I am just getting myself ready for the next push. But here it is the Offical €3000 pic.......



And below is the pic from my 2nd Place in the 8k bounty game. I have managed to suss out how to insert pics now !!!



Hoping to play a bit over the weekend and looking outside its pants so defo playing some Challenge poker........ Full report Prob on the 19th March.

Another day another 8k game.

Yes I have forgotten the tourney now from last night, and although I wanted 6th 8th did still do the job and at the end of the day its about making the right decisions in the game I play and that is what I did. You need luck of course to win anything and maybe its my turn in the not to distant future.....

So I played another €6.60 All in Sat, and bagged it on the first go. I played a bit of cash as well today but only for an hr or so and I actually could be bothered to fire up the tracker. I haven't been bothered with it recently, and now can see I am still in the red for the month on the cash tables, but only down 1.5 buy ins which is way better than 5 or 6 which it was at the start of the month. I have a good feeling I can bridge that gap in the next session though.......

I picked up a bounty in my 8k game tonight and was playing pretty well and not going after every all in, and even my exit hand was pretty standard. Some guy last night was slow playing is KK when I had AA, well tonight some guy was slow playing is AA v my KK. No complaints from me its what happens, and its nice to see I went out v a better hand and not some junk like last night. Like I said 1 bounty collected and its still profit on the day.

So overall from the 1st 2 weeks of March, I have smashed the 3k mark, and have already played 8.5k hands in March which for me is amazing considering its been a pretty rough month regards health wise. But I have started getting up earlier with the alarm, ok to you 10-30 / 11am is not early but the peeps who know me, me trying to wake up early is such a hard thing for me to do because of the Med's. Yes I struggle in the day and yes I have to lie down and fall asleep in seconds during the afternoon, but its just like 20 mins or so and that seems to do me. But its still early days for me to be constantly waking up and trying to get a routine going, but hopefully with the drive of my new Hobby on top of poker it can be seen as a major boost for me and Morale........
Anyways back to poker thing...... On checking my rakeback of this month its pretty good reading knowing I have already raked €77 and just €23 to make the rakeback Minimum. I need to move all my cash challenge B/roll into one place so I can screenshot it and post it up. I withdrew €1500 just incase the site suddenly went AWOL or bust. Yes its supported by Sporting Bet but you just never know. Its sitting in my MoneyBookers or whatever its called....... Getting very tired now so cant think but you know what I mean.......

I hate fcuking 9's

I wasn't going to post anymore on the said Tourny, but we are on break and I am still fuming. Yes I was rivered again by a 9 for top 3 spot with 8 remaining. Again AK and I raise only for shorty to shove his 3BB and then the BB shoves. I was UTG+2 but didnt seem to bother this prick who like I said shoves from the BB with A9. Shorty wins the small pot and that river cost me a pay jump on the ladder and also his bounty which was another €40 odd. Now currently 7/8 with just 8BB now.
I wanted 6th when I reached the final and it looks like I wont get that now. On the plus side if there is a plus side, I managed to knock out a bounty who was worth €55.
I'm determined not to get 8th with a guy on 2.5BB regardless. Who just doubles up by hitting trips on the river......... Sighments

Gutted........ Just went out 8th when shorty shoves and I call with 88 he's got 10 3 and of course completes the boat by the time the river arrives and I had 1 BB left and obviously I brick with my 2 4 suited.

Overall you need some luck and I didnt run to good when it mattered. I collect €113.15 in Bounties and €106.42 for 8th. Yes its over the 3k but I am still gutted at the moment. Lets hope tomorrow I can forget and pat myself on the back.......

Screenshot later.

All change...........

Yes all change, and its only been like 15 minutes since the last post. I was hanging on for the cash and manage to hit some cards for a change. JJ UTG and QQ in the BB and squeezed it through pre. Then I managed to double almost anyways but only about 2bb from a double with AA and the guy was slow rolling me with KK and the cash was all in by the turn. He bricked I collect a bounty although for the minimum but I'll take it.
Currently Hand for Hand with me in 8th place. Lets win this thing, I have 50BB.

Mean while, playing poker standing up is quite fun :-0

Back is in bits ut what can I do............

Arrrrrgggghhhhhhhh

Poker is sooooooo frustrating.......

In the 8k I was playing tonight.......

I make a great call, although I guess I was a tad lucky but I make a call with 66 after 2 all in's. I have them both covered ( Just ) and they both turn over AK they miss and I pick up my 2 bounties I so wanted. But in a massive hand lying 2/82 and getting dealt AK in the BB were again there are 2 ll in's with the 2nd player over shoving to Isolate I guess and I make the call eventually and up against A3 suited and the over shove of 9 10 suited. I called cos he was worth €30 and I had seen him raise and call with shite. Anyways the short stack rivers the flush and that river being the 9 makes 9 10 hero bag a massive pot and costs me money. Its hard to carry on at the moment, but currently the dipstick with 9 10 is openshoving as I speak everyhand, wouldnt think its a €33 tourney........
Just 14 to go till the money and currently 31/54. Its €20 min for cashing which would go a bit of the way to 3k and could carry on with the stt's, so thats what I am going to do. Cash is cash to me, yes once I cash I will try a few moves with the cash crap from cashing to Final table. Be nice to take another bounty but will see..... 10 to go..........

Soooo whats been happening then?

The answer to that is not a lot to be honest. Although I started like a house on fire, the wheels seem to have come off somewhere.
The BadBeat Jackpot was hit the day after the last post so that sort of knocked me back from playing the cash, so I hit the Stt's and I ended up bubbling like 4 in a row and winning 2 at the lower limit to cover the cost of the Bubbles. I then started a bit of cash and quickly knew I was not able to drag any length at all during sessions. So the seesions turned into session x 3 days with only a handful of hands in each session.
I am still trying and finding it very hard to sit for any amount of time without the Pain Spazzing out and killing anything I was doing at that time, and because of that its really hard to put anything together.
I did actually play a couple of stt's this morning and yet again Bubbled one and bricked the other before I saw the all in Sat for the 8k waiting for 1 player so obliged and bricked it but it filled up pretty quickly and within less than a minute it was full again and I pulled it out and bag the seat for tonight. I did try one more to recoup the €25 I am down on the day but bricked that to, so its on for tonight, and although its just 40 minutes away from the start I am already feeling like shit. But will give it a go and if I can bag 2 bounties it will pull me back.
The 3k mark is there just waiting and I was tempted to play some €20 stt's and just bag 2 in quick sucesession and it will be done, but on the other hand I think, if I lose 5 in a row its going to take longer to hit the 3k mark so thats the reason for not going for it. I'm just too scarred I think.......