CraigSG1 Cash Diary and new goals. Starting BR £500. Current: £540

calcalfold · December 2013

One thing I don't understand.

Given Sky has autocorrect, how do you always spell balance wrong?

CraigSG1 · December 2013

Day 46

I played 3 MTT's today, the 6pm £2BH which saw me struggle to get anything going and depart midfield with no heads. A UKOPS £3.30BH side event got off well but in the fast structure once my AK failed to improve against 66 for a 2nd head I was short. I eventually went out 206/367. Things where going well in a £5BH with me taking 3 heads and being amongst the chip leaders for a large part but when play got down to below 60 players I was moved to a very active table. I lost a series of pots in flips or ahead 60/40's but to no avail. I eventually went out aipf with 77 v 88 v KK departing in 46/262. It was a shame to be moved as I was doing very well and had good reads on all my opponents. The luck comes in different ways in MTT's and table draws play a big part too.

I had 3 cash sessions making over £9.50 overall in 4+ hours of play, 3 of those in the evening. It could have been a loss during one crazy 5 minute spell this morning when I lost a series of big pots, one worth £8 - luckily I took a side pot to limit the damage. Getting allin preflop against two opponents with AA can be scary but when you have both crushed you expect it to go better!

Hand History #726203023 (11:28 30/12/2013)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
mcaleer07	Small blind		£0.02	£0.02	£1.87
DrSharp	Big blind		£0.04	£0.06	£3.96
	Your hole cards	A A
CraigSG1	Raise		£0.14	£0.20	£3.54
ninianpk	Fold
jason2	Call		£0.14	£0.34	£3.00
HENDRIK62	Fold
mcaleer07	Raise		£0.22	£0.56	£1.65
DrSharp	Fold
CraigSG1	Raise		£0.76	£1.32	£2.78
jason2	Raise		£1.42	£2.74	£1.58
mcaleer07	All-in		£1.65	£4.39	£0.00
CraigSG1	All-in		£2.78	£7.17	£0.00
jason2	All-in		£1.58	£8.75	£0.00
CraigSG1	Unmatched bet		£0.54	£8.21	£0.54
mcaleer07	Show	A J
CraigSG1	Show	A A
jason2	Show	A K
Flop
		J 7 5
Turn
		J
River
		3
mcaleer07	Win	Three Jacks	£5.28		£5.28
CraigSG1	Win	Two Pairs, Aces and Jacks	£2.31		£2.85

This hand happened at the same time on another table:

Hand History #726187082 (09:18 30/12/2013)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
CraigSG1	Small blind		£0.02	£0.02	£3.67
slackalice	Big blind		£0.04	£0.06	£5.35
	Your hole cards	Q Q
FADAM	Fold
louie106	Call		£0.04	£0.10	£4.18
wolfkin	Raise		£0.12	£0.22	£3.76
achin	Call		£0.12	£0.34	£1.72
CraigSG1	Raise		£0.54	£0.88	£3.13
slackalice	Fold
louie106	Fold
wolfkin	Fold
achin	Call		£0.44	£1.32	£1.28
Flop
		3 8 8
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.66	£1.98	£2.47
achin	All-in		£1.28	£3.26	£0.00
CraigSG1	Call		£0.62	£3.88	£1.85
CraigSG1	Show	Q Q
achin	Show	8 Q
Turn
		7
River
		5
achin	Win	Three 8s	£3.58		£3.58

Also, very next hand on the same table i lost with AA v AJ v AK I got AK next hand, the big over shove on the turn seems much but I wanted it to look like tilt and usually when I get called it is by worse, but when things go wrong.....

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
DrSharp	Small blind		£0.02	£0.02	£3.98
CraigSG1	Big blind		£0.04	£0.06	£2.81
	Your hole cards	K A
ninianpk	Call		£0.04	£0.10	£6.97
HENDRIK62	Fold
mcaleer07	Call		£0.04	£0.14	£5.24
DrSharp	Fold
CraigSG1	Raise		£0.14	£0.28	£2.67
ninianpk	Call		£0.14	£0.42	£6.83
mcaleer07	Call		£0.14	£0.56	£5.10
Flop
		2 6 K
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.28	£0.84	£2.39
ninianpk	Call		£0.28	£1.12	£6.55
mcaleer07	Call		£0.28	£1.40	£4.82
Turn
		9
CraigSG1	All-in		£2.39	£3.79	£0.00
ninianpk	Call		£2.39	£6.18	£4.16
mcaleer07	Fold
CraigSG1	Show	K A
ninianpk	Show	6 6
River
		J
ninianpk	Win	Three 6s	£5.71		£9.87

So, to finish up on the day was pleasing. Especially since in the 3h i played 5/10MC I could not hit a hand! I must have looked a right nit as I just kept getting junk and on occasions I got a playable hand there was action before me. Its hard but you must remain disciplined for eg throwing away KJ when you have a raise your OOP even if its the best hand youve seen in 5 orbits. It didnt help either that on the five occasions i got dealt AK I completly whiffed the flop against multiple calling stations so had to give up. Drawing to the end I managed to finally hit a couple of hands to finish up. One with QQ on a flushy board and picking off a c/r bluff on the river and finally hitting with AK and getting 2 streets of value off a calling station.

I'm still playing well, and I'm hoping this will get rewarded soon with a bink. I have to say its a bit dissapointing to have only won one so far during this challange but I have had a number of close runs and know that a couple of quick wins could happen any time.

Here's hoping.

CraigSG1 · December 2013

Day 47

So, the end of the year is upon us and poker wise its been an ok one. Ive had ups and downs but thankfully I have had my 6th straight winning year out of 6 but it is getting harder. The purpose of this challange is to hit my target first to prove to myself I can do it and then actually give it a go again playing higher stakes. In my OP I said I had to give up playing bigger stakes but hopefully when I complete this I will be playing bigger MTT's again and looking to get that amazing buzz from a big win that keeps you awake all through the night! Hopefully next year can be my best ever year, so heres hoping and I would like to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of my readers.

Today a morning £3BH went dreadful, getting donked out very early first by losing a flip against a guy playing and betting big every hand, my AQ no good against his 99. Next hand I got QJs with few chips so went with that only to run in the worst possible hand - QQ! Lukily though this enabled me to concentrate fully on cash and playing a few 2/4p tables and one 5/10MC I brought away a £21 profit from over 2h's play. This despite two early setbacks, this one being the cruelest;

Hand History #726638950 (10:40 31/12/2013)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
staceofspa	Small blind		£0.02	£0.02	£2.83
CraigSG1	Big blind		£0.04	£0.06	£7.07
	Your hole cards	Q Q
KrazyAce	Fold
pne4me	Raise		£0.08	£0.14	£4.20
bullshop4	Fold
chefboy79	Raise		£0.12	£0.26	£2.47
staceofspa	Fold
CraigSG1	Raise		£0.42	£0.68	£6.65
pne4me	Fold
chefboy79	Call		£0.34	£1.02	£2.13
Flop
		8 10 7
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.51	£1.53	£6.14
chefboy79	All-in		£2.13	£3.66	£0.00
CraigSG1	Call		£1.62	£5.28	£4.52
CraigSG1	Show	Q Q
chefboy79	Show	6 5
Turn
		9
River
		10
chefboy79	Win	Straight to the 10	£4.88		£4.88

And this not being much better;

Hand History #726635374 (10:16 31/12/2013)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
CraigSG1	Small blind		£0.02	£0.02	£2.94
Sporksy	Big blind		£0.04	£0.06	£3.43
	Your hole cards	K K
ALoc	Fold
Prash09	Call		£0.04	£0.10	£4.15
monkeeey	Raise		£0.20	£0.30	£3.82
CraigSG1	Raise		£0.66	£0.96	£2.28
Sporksy	Fold
Prash09	Call		£0.64	£1.60	£3.51
monkeeey	Call		£0.48	£2.08	£3.34
Flop
		Q 7 8
CraigSG1	All-in		£2.28	£4.36	£0.00
Prash09	Fold
monkeeey	All-in		£3.34	£7.70	£0.00
monkeeey	Unmatched bet		£1.06	£6.64	£1.06
CraigSG1	Show	K K
monkeeey	Show	Q A
Turn
		Q
River
		5
monkeeey	Win	Three Queens	£6.14		£7.20

The ups and downs of low stakes! I did spend over 2h on the MC table being card dead almost the whole time. With 2 other guys being hugely active and constantly hitting big hands with wierd cards or bluff/rebluffing each other it was very hard to play. I went up and down, dipping at £11 and reaching £21 (max £20). That was until very near the end where I couldn't take it no-more and took a stand. The usual big over bet pre raise to £2 from a player who did this everyhand (because he was bored!) so I just shoved £15 allin expecting a fold. Well, I did get a fold but the other very loose player snapped me (bear in mind I had been rock solid and not shown down one bluff or bad hand) with 66. Thankfully I hit the K on the flop and turned a straight to finish £10+. Not the greatest play but I did expect this to work a lot pre.

I played two more MTT's in the evening, both of which I wa doing very well in until two crazy beats. In the £2BH I was cruising, playing well and picking up hands and when in the money with 15 left from 154 and about 8th the table chip leader limped UTG and i was in the BB with 66. Four way I took the flop and hit a set on a 4K6 two club board. I decided to lead out with a half pot bet only to get immediatly min raised from the UTG chip leader. Thinking he has a K or club draw I shove allin for a pot bet and get snapped by....AA! Well, here's my chance for a CL stack and a deep run I was talking about. But no! A blank turn was met by an A river! Ouch! Gutted wasnt the word.

In the £5BH I had a good start, doubling up 3/4th hand but I missed a head prize by 10 measly chips. It was that way the whole way through, winning pots and missing out on HP's by a few chips. Then after an hour and a half with 50 left from 190 im again in the BB but with 96. A guy that had limped EVERY pot was in there with two others. An A96 flop gave me two pair and we eventually got it allin with my limping friend having...yes, you've guessed it. AA! So out yet a agin to a discuised AA's. Now, I'm not a big believer in limping with AA unless you know theres a high chance an opponent is ultra agg and will raise and bet no matter what but the two things wrong with limping with AA/KK is its very obvious your very strong when you limp/reraise pre and if it goes multiway your never sure if your ahead. Not to mention you want to get chips in the middle and build pots with your premium hands. So, again two good chances to go deep went in the blink of an eye.

I toiled away at cash for a few hours, going up and down a lot but still finished about £2.50 up.

After all that I'm pleased to finish the year and the day with another high ballance and the £400 ceiling broken! Its good to make steady progress but being a pessimistic guy I know that when I finsh with a losing day I'll feel down! Poker players are never happy! Well, I think the only one who is ever happy at the end of the year is the WSOP main event winner. Oh, and Daniel Negranu - that guys always happy!

BR £409.44 PP 1076

IDONKCALLU · December 2013

doing well craig keep up the gd work

GaryQQQ · January 2014

A superb finish to the year, very well played Craig. Excellent self-analysis over the last few days. This is a text book example of a public bankroll challenge diary leading to self improvement.

As expected there are several nasty beats, many typical cases of 'if only'. Just remember that while those beats hurt at the time they are also crucial to your success. The luck factor keeps the weaker opponents in your games, if they lost every time they'd be long gone by now and you'd be left playing stronger opponents only.

Good luck to you for 2014. Avoid tilt, keep your discipline and the £1,000 goal will be yours.

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Thanks IDONKCALLU and GaryQQQ, means alot to hear those words.

Day 48

So, another day passes and another small increase and yet again another near miss! Seems like a theme. So, the two morning £3.30BH (which Sky need to do more of) only resulted in 2 HP's (both from the same one) and not much else. I did get ddep in one and half way in another. I cant remember how I went our but I think in first one I got committed early and had to go with it, starting off ahead pre but finishing behind. The 2nd my demise came through two missed 50/50's against aggro players. You just have to take a stand against these and hope for the best.

I went out early in a £5 BH (which for some reason I just cant get going in even though the standard is the same, if not worse, as £2 BH's) and I have to take responsibilty for that one. I played a few hands too loose when my gut said no but sometimes you convince yourself they can have something else when experiance says no! With the return of the £300 free cash FR's which I will play to varying degrees of concentration, I lasted the course in one finsihing 4th and taking away £6+. I played two last night but didnt really pay attention. I pretty much gamble early and if im doing ok after 20 mins I pay more attention. Hanging on for a few pence isnt really worth it so my strategy (which does ok I think) is as I said, play a bit loose and build a stack and then just pick off pots. It gets easier the closer to the end when some people lock up.

My best run came yet again in the £2BH where I finished 18/208 with 6 heads and a min+ cash for a profit of £6+. It was a strange affir, with me again fluctuating up and down. My demise came through bad play on my part. I was about 3/4th when an UTG min raise got 3 callers all looking to get a bounty from the very short SB. He indeed went allin with his 1+ BB and I had AJ in the BB. Arguments could be made to just flat here and hope to hit big but there is also the case of a lot of dead money in the pot going begging and if I shove (which I did!) I can pick up a lot of chips and a HU chance of a bounty and maybe a loose call from someone else. I'm not sure which is correct but I went against my "feeling" that the UTG was infact quite strong. When he snap called I knew I wasnt best and we did get that loose call I was talking about as well. UTG had JJ (ooops) and the guy I expected to call wide called as well with A10. Not good news! So a huge pot left me and so did my chances. Left with 3 BB's and moved back to the BB on another table I went with Ax and lost against 2 callers, both of which I was ahead pre but importantly not by the river. As I said, I'm not sure if its technically a mistake but it just didnt feel right to do it and I should have listened but hindsight is an evil thing. He could easily have had 1010,i win the flip and I dont look back. Thats why its important to look back at every hand and not just those you lose, the ones you win are just as important as we all know you can make the perfect play and lose as wel as make a donkey mistake and win!

Cash wise, I played a grand total of 5h for a total profit of over £11. Could have been much better tonight but sets killed me today. Twice I flopped sets to lose big pots, both to runner runners and two times I hit big hands against someone elses sets only to lose. Playing more higher stakes will mean bigger swings (ones I'm not used to) so thats something else I will have to get used too.

BR £424 PP 81

I will endeavour to not just include the 'bad beat' hands but it is hard when my more solid style means I dint gamble as much so dont really 'suck out' in the big ways I've shown. That in itself can be tilting as you can get into that mind set of thinking you are 'owed' a suckout. Poker, and life, doesn't work that way!

But, here are a couple fo deecent hands from today,

This is the type of hand you flop knowing its very hard for your opponent to pay you off no matter how hard you pray!

Hand History #727130255 (18:45 01/01/2014)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
monk42	Small blind		£0.05	£0.05	£18.01
CraigSG1	Big blind		£0.10	£0.15	£29.84
	Your hole cards	Q Q
Braciole	Fold
TKDROB	Fold
monk42	Call		£0.05	£0.20	£17.96
CraigSG1	Raise		£0.30	£0.50	£29.54
monk42	Call		£0.30	£0.80	£17.66
Flop
		4 Q Q
monk42	Check
CraigSG1	Check
Turn
		A
monk42	Bet		£0.10	£0.90	£17.56
CraigSG1	Call		£0.10	£1.00	£29.44
River
		10
monk42	Bet		£0.10	£1.10	£17.46
CraigSG1	Raise		£0.70	£1.80	£28.74
monk42	Call		£0.60	£2.40	£16.86
CraigSG1	Show	Q Q
monk42	Muck	10 J
CraigSG1	Win	Four Queens	£2.22		£30.96

I did witness a Royal flush today, it just doesnt have the same impact when you cant show full suit HH's!

Hand History #726981573 (10:19 01/01/2014)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
johnradica	Small blind		£0.02	£0.02	£2.66
CraigSG1	Big blind		£0.04	£0.06	£5.70
	Your hole cards	Kclub Aclub
Mallard24	Fold
dre136	Fold
ImOrthodox	Fold
Marshman	Call		£0.04	£0.10	£1.91
johnradica	Call		£0.02	£0.12	£2.64
CraigSG1	Raise		£0.12	£0.24	£5.58
Marshman	Call		£0.12	£0.36	£1.79
johnradica	Call		£0.12	£0.48	£2.52
Flop
		Qspade 5club 10spade
johnradica	Bet		£0.16	£0.64	£2.36
CraigSG1	Fold
Marshman	Call		£0.16	£0.80	£1.63
Turn
		Aspade
johnradica	Bet		£0.60	£1.40	£1.76
Marshman	Call		£0.60	£2.00	£1.03
River
		3heart
johnradica	All-in		£1.76	£3.76	£0.00
Marshman	All-in		£1.03	£4.79	£0.00
johnradica	Unmatched bet		£0.73	£4.06	£0.73
johnradica	Show	Jspade Kspade
Marshman	Show	Qheart Aheart

GaryQQQ · January 2014

You're right, the £5.75s are no tougher than the £2.30 or £3.30 Bounty Hunters. When you start seeing results in the £5.75s there's the potential for rapid growth. The standard isn't much different in the £11 games either, it's only at the £22 level you start to see a noticeably higher proprtion of sharks in the field.

CraigSG1 · January 2014

I actually think that the £2 and £3BH's are a little bit more tougher than the £5's, or they are at the times I've been playing them. I think the £5's fit the more 'have a go' types that want to play something that can win them more money. The lower ones are often filled with some good micro stakes that play more regularly.

I will be looking to adding some £11BH's in soon now that i'm rolled (or almost) for them.

Day 49

Right, with today being one of my 2 bonus days off (i saved 2 from last year as who wants to go back for two days!) I played a lot more today. I'll start with cash where I played 5 sessions, totaling 5h and managed to make £17 profit. It was a mix of 2/4 and 5/10. I lost BI's and won BI's all through the day, could have been better had I not lost 1 1/5 BI's in the last 5 mins of one session I was doing very well in. I hit some huge hands (think I hit quads four times today and could have had another had I still been in the hand) and ran into them and it made for an interesting day.

Here's one of them;

Hand History #727424579 (14:58 02/01/2014)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
8wizard8	Big blind		£0.10	£0.10	£25.46
	Your hole cards	3 3
elbows7	Fold
jimb0d1	Raise		£0.30	£0.40	£19.70
CraigSG1	Call		£0.30	£0.70	£16.31
Chezzy30	Call		£0.30	£1.00	£11.78
8wizard8	Fold
Flop
		8 3 3
jimb0d1	Check
CraigSG1	Check
Chezzy30	Check
Turn
		Q
jimb0d1	Bet		£0.40	£1.40	£19.30
CraigSG1	Call		£0.40	£1.80	£15.91
Chezzy30	Fold
River
		2
jimb0d1	Check
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.40	£2.20	£15.51
jimb0d1	Fold
CraigSG1	Muck
CraigSG1	Win		£1.66		£17.17
CraigSG1	Return		£0.40	£0.14	£17.57

And another in an MTT;

Hand History #727374798 (11:36 02/01/2014)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
CraigSG1	Small blind		40.00	40.00	3145.00
denman475	Big blind		80.00	120.00	3260.00
	Your hole cards	K K
Kamcio	Raise		160.00	280.00	5092.50
martinst10	Call		160.00	440.00	13145.00
theJack828	Call		160.00	600.00	2515.00
NICE_RIVER	Fold
CraigSG1	Raise		600.00	1200.00	2545.00
denman475	Fold
Kamcio	Fold
martinst10	Call		480.00	1680.00	12665.00
theJack828	Fold
Flop
		K 2 Q
CraigSG1	Bet		160.00	1840.00	2385.00
martinst10	Call		160.00	2000.00	12505.00
Turn
		K
CraigSG1	Bet		240.00	2240.00	2145.00
martinst10	Call		240.00	2480.00	12265.00
River
		3
CraigSG1	Bet		640.00	3120.00	1505.00
martinst10	Call		640.00	3760.00	11625.00
CraigSG1	Show	K K
martinst10	Muck	J J
CraigSG1	Win	Four Kings	3760.00		5265.00

MTT wise, I'm sure your going to guess, I had yet another near miss! It was in the 2nd of the £3BH's (the first I busted early in a KK v AA cooler) where I took 6th place for a £12 profit. It started out very slow, I couldn't get hands but did manage a double up half way through first hour to take me to the break. I was limping along for much of the tourny until I got a little run of hands, taking down a few blinds, then winning couple small pots until I got the quad K's hand (above). That got me into contention but then I lost a decent pot for a head prize and fluctuated up and down for a while. I eventually took 3 heads in quick succession and I was back above average. Bubble play lasted a while and so did getting to the final table bubble. What this did was make everyones stack shallow and I went from 7/7 to 2.7 back to 7/7! We eventually got the the FT with me 6/6. I went up to 3/6 by jamming with AK twice and KQs but then the bad run returned. After stealing two sets of blind in succession I picked up 1010. I jammed to look weak and got called by AQ and 67s! This pot would have made me CL with another HP and decimating another active player (hence his 67s - this same guy had snap called a huge allin for 80% of his stack with J8o against KK. KK looked good on the flop until a J turn and 8 river knocked out the poor guy). AS you can tell it didnt go my way, a Q flopped and A to rub it in saw me to about 6BBs. Next hand I got K9 and with the blinds and a min raise I pushed allin and mr AQ reraised to knock out the orignal limper. He had 66 so I was happy to have a race and the pot was worth 3rd place. I flopped well, yippee!, but then he hit a set and I was out. Another frustrating end, I really felt like I was going to win this even when I was 6/6 as with shallow stacks I know my edge comes in picking spots and taking down pots with no shows and finding the right ppl to 'pick' on.

I played another 3 MTT's, the £2 i finished up a few pence from heads, getting deep but finishing 25/168 when I lost a 3 way allin flip. The £5BH's again not happening for me. I fin 85/223 and had numerous chances to take pots and HP's but missing out. I flopped a set against a FD and lost, a straight lost to another flush on the river and I lost against a set when I flopped TPTK. My exit came when I got slow rolled by AA when I 3 bet allin with JJ. The guy put in chat box "Hmmmmm" so I was thinking I was ahead or flipping if he called instead of dominated!

Its good to keep saying this but also frustrating too as again it could have been so much better, but, another high ballance!

BR £442.31 PP 188

PS Over 100 PP's just from today is one of my highest daily totals without it being a C4P promotion. Its a shame I cant do that every day as I would be in with a shout in the PS4 promotion. My feeling on this promotion is mixed, as usual I cant knock Sky. They dont have to do these but I still feel its weighed too much to the regulars. I am in no way knocking them as yes they should get added benefits but I think the best promotion for the lower stakes players has been the Golden Ticket. This gives the lower stakes players a chance as you can get tickets to the same prizes but also does reward to regulars as they can gain more so its fair both ways.

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Day 50

Well, my first losing day for a while and I have to say its been one of my worst days ever! Now, it may sound odd when you look and see that my BR only dropped £9 but I consider that a huge victory against the odds! I was down almost £40 at one point but without some basically horrendous (i hate 'bad beating' you all but this is a diary and almost very important pot went against me) run I could easily have been £100 up today.

Where to start? Well, I played another 5h of cash today for a total loss of £8+. I lost numerous pots on the river to 4,3,2 and even 1 outers. All the big pots I was involved in (7/8 I counted) I went allin as huge or big favouraite only to lose on the river. £20+ pot with flopped nut straight to a flush. £40 pot to rivered flush when flopped set. £35 pot to turned gutshot straight against a flopped set. £20 with top pair to rivered (see the theme?) gutshot straight plus a few others.

I can honestly say I felt so deflated and sick. It got to the point where twice I had the nuts facing an allin knowing I was against the FD on board and knowing I have to call but not wanting to knowing the river would get me! Obviously you cant fold the nuts and suffice to say I lost. I'm glad my cats were not around I can tell you!

Anyway, I somehow managed to claw some of it back in my last hour and even though I wanted to carry on to try and get it all back I decided to call it a day and take the small victory of only being £9 down. I resisted my usual thing of jumping up two levels to chase my losses, I did register for a 25/50 but quickly came to my senses and left after one round. This is the reason why I do this diary to stop me doing stupid things like that. Its not nice to admit either but,hey.

I only played two MTTs, the 6pm £2Bh and a £5BH. The £5 one quickly came and went, cant remember exactly how but I was at an extremely active table and no matter my raise size I would get called and when you miss with Ax or have numerous overs against your PP's what can you do? I think I went out via a wierd flip, something like 88 v J9.

My only 'succes' of the day was the £2BH. I again went very deep, finishing 14/174. Its wierd because I dont play any different to the £5 but I cant get anywhere in them! So, I was coasting through the field and then I got a huge trebble up when 3 big hands clashed and I won in spectacular and verylucky style!

Hand History #727986361 (19:14 03/01/2014)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
xbootneck2	Small blind		75.00	75.00	5525.00
dougied13	Big blind		150.00	225.00	2875.00
	Your hole cards	Q Q
Tuddy16	Raise		450.00	675.00	8810.00
nortimer	Call		450.00	1125.00	5310.00
CraigSG1	All-in		6780.00	7905.00	0.00
xbootneck2	Fold
dougied13	Fold
Tuddy16	Call		6330.00	14235.00	2480.00
nortimer	All-in		5310.00	19545.00	0.00
Tuddy16	Show	K A
nortimer	Show	K K
CraigSG1	Show	Q Q
Flop
		10 J 5
Turn
		Q
River
		Q
CraigSG1	Win	Four Queens	19545.00		19545.00

My overshove may look a bit over the top but these very same opponents had been in every hand, either raising or calling. Suffice to say I was surpirsed to be against two huge hands and then the flop not being great as it took away my set. I indded hit the set and I was praying for the board to pair but a lovely Q did it just as well. So, a bit of luck for once and a chance to go deep we've been craving for! I used my stack the best Ive done in a long while, picking up pots at will and just coasting. Then disaster! The curse of the CL pot got me yet again. Ive not won a big confrontion for a CL pot for a long time even though Ive gone in ahead everytime. Now, you may think the last hand was lucky but this next hand is even worse of a suck out.

Hand History #728031637 (20:20 03/01/2014)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
samjt120	Small blind		500.00	500.00	15583.36
houdini444	Big blind		1000.00	1500.00	9054.20
	Your hole cards	https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/heart.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="heart">K https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/club.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="club">K
CraigSG1	Raise		2000.00	3500.00	12710.12
ROOTS	Fold
https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/hhdealer.gif'); background-color: transparent; background-position: 100% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="dealer">Toonian	Fold
samjt120	Call		1500.00	5000.00	14083.36
houdini444	Call		1000.00	6000.00	8054.20
Flop
		https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/diamond.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="diamond">K https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/diamond.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="diamond">8 https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/diamond.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="diamond">J
samjt120	Check
houdini444	Check
CraigSG1	Bet		2000.00	8000.00	10710.12
samjt120	Call		2000.00	10000.00	12083.36
houdini444	Fold
Turn
		https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/club.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="club">8
samjt120	Check
CraigSG1	Bet		2000.00	12000.00	8710.12
samjt120	Call		2000.00	14000.00	10083.36
River
		https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/spade.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="spade">8
samjt120	Check
CraigSG1	All-in		8710.12	22710.12	0.00
samjt120	All-in		10083.36	32793.48	0.00
samjt120	Unmatched bet		1373.24	31420.24	1373.24
samjt120	Show	https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/heart.gif'); display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="heart">8 https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/diamond.gif'); display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="diamond">A
CraigSG1	Show	https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/heart.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="heart">K https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/club.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="club">K
samjt120	Win	Four 8s	31420.24		32793.48

As you can see I've found a way to include suits! Yeah! Not yeah! is my exit. Brutal is not the word! So, from coasting to out in one killer hand. My day summed up.

BR £433.57 PP 287

I have mixed emotions at the minute. From feeling really down to feeling glad its only a £9 dip is pretty weird. What makes it more bearable is this diary. I can look back at the progress ive made and it takes the sting off it. I can take a down day, I think its just the fact that it could easily have been my best day instead of a losing day. On to tomorrow....

CraigSG1 · January 2014

...and tomorrow was...a GOOD day!

Day 51

Lately my biggest profit and the reason I have had so many small winning days lately has been cash. I view cash as a way of providing money for my MTT buyins (either fully or partially). I play at small stakes because I dont yet have the mentality for the big swings and since ive moved from 6 to 4 my results have improved dramitically (so far, dont jinx me please).

Today I had two seesions totaling 3h and taking £6+. Could have been better but lost a couple of coolers, including the dreaded KK v AA. Tricky fella flatted my big 3 bet and we went allin on the flop 3 way AA v KK v J2o(!) on a J49 rainbow board. I did though, have this nice hand but sadly it was only a small pot;

Hand History #728276053 (10:11 04/01/2014)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
Ms_Chips	Small blind		£0.02	£0.02	£6.62
mickwill	Big blind		£0.04	£0.06	£3.15
	Your hole cards	https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/spade.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.9em; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="spade">4 https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/spade.gif'); background-color: #ffffff; display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.9em; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="spade">A
FISHER13	Fold
volenanuky	Call		£0.04	£0.10	£2.99
CraigSG1	Call		£0.04	£0.14	£8.87
https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/hhdealer.gif'); background-color: transparent; background-position: 100% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="dealer">jowvegas	Fold
Ms_Chips	Call		£0.02	£0.16	£6.60
mickwill	Check
Flop
		https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/diamond.gif'); display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.9em; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="diamond">Q https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/spade.gif'); display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.9em; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="spade">5 https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/spade.gif'); display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.9em; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="spade">2
Ms_Chips	Check
mickwill	Check
volenanuky	Check
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.12	£0.28	£8.75
Ms_Chips	Fold
mickwill	Fold
volenanuky	Call		£0.12	£0.40	£2.87
Turn
		https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/spade.gif'); display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.9em; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="spade">3
volenanuky	Check
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.08	£0.48	£8.67
volenanuky	Call		£0.08	£0.56	£2.79
River
		https://www.skypoker.com/img/site/heart.gif'); display: block; border: 1px solid #9bc3e5; width: 15px; text-align: center; font-size: 0.9em; background-position: 1px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat" class="heart">3
volenanuky	Check
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.36	£0.92	£8.31
volenanuky	Fold
CraigSG1	Muck
CraigSG1	Win		£0.51		£8.82
CraigSG1	Return		£0.36	£0.05	£9.18

Now, the good thing about being able to keep my BR stable is that when I do get a good score it makes a mark. And today I'm glad to report I had a bink! My 2nd MTT win in this challange (and first of the year, the first of many I hope) came in the first of the two morning £3.30Bh's. In the 2nd I couldnt get anything going and eventually went out after an hour. The first went much better. I had a cracking start, 2nd hand almost trippling up when my AA got it allin on the flop (after I had made a big 3bet) against KJ (top pr K) and A6o (3rd pr 6!) and managed to hold for 2 HP's! I then used my stack very well, with controlled agresssion. Never going gungho and just picking up small pots. I ran really well too, getting hands and holding or bluffing in good spots. I took 3 more HP's through the next hour and was amoungst the top 3 for most of the way.

I did go a bit card dead as we approached the bubble but I was still able to pick up a few blinds by picking on the mid stacks (very important part of late MTT play is identifying who you can put pressure on and who you cant) to keep healthy but during this period stacks started to become shallower and more condensed. When we got to the final table i was 5/6 but there was one big stack with a 3/1 chip advantage on everone else who where within a few BB's of each other. I didn't fret though, just stayed patient and once we got down to four I had another little run of cards. I stole a few blinds and then knocked someone out 1010 v A3 after it looked like I was stealing. From there I easily picked off the former big stack who basically called every rasie or limped everyhand.

Heads up I had a 2/1 chip lead and was going fine until I got QQ. I 3 bet big and got flatted. A benign flop saw me check as when Ive done this before he jams allin with a wide range. He didnt. A seemingly safe 2 came and then he jammed! I snap of course only to see he has a set of 2's! Now we are reversed and I'm feeling gutted. But, I stayed calm as we still had deep stacks to blinds and I managed to claw back and reduce the gap. Then this happened! Dream!

Hand History #728296835 (12:16 04/01/2014)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
CraigSG1	Small blind		600.00	600.00	49470.00
conker1	Big blind		1200.00	1800.00	78730.00
	Your hole cards	2 2
CraigSG1	Raise		1800.00	3600.00	47670.00
conker1	Call		1200.00	4800.00	77530.00
Flop
		2 2 6
conker1	All-in		77530.00	82330.00	0.00
CraigSG1	All-in		47670.00	130000.00	0.00
conker1	Unmatched bet		29860.00	100140.00	29860.00
CraigSG1	Show	2 2
conker1	Show	A 6
Turn
		A
River
		4
CraigSG1	Win	Four 2s	100140.00		100140.00

When I hit that flop I was thinking how am I going to get paid when the dream scenario happened. He shoved like I was expecting that other hand. I couldn't call quick enough! It gave me a big lead and I passed up a couple of allin calles with a mid K and a weak A as I didnt want to let him back in easily. The end came when I flopped 2 pair and after he called 2 streets with bottom pr he hit 2 pr on flop and went with it. I called and bang, I won!

Its great to win and the reason I play! I took £29 for first and £28 in head prizes so winning was worth an extra £23 (as I got his head and kept my HP not to mention the bigger score for winning).

I played two more in the evening. I got a good start in the £2 and was doing very well with only 49 left from 180 when I raised and got called by a calling station. I hit trips and kept betting but he turned a flush and went allin. I couldnt really fold nut trips

and I couldn't improve against the might 4d2d's. Another chip lead pot goes begging.

Again I couldn't get anything going in the £5BH. I could have doubled up 3 times with HP's but failed on the river each time and each time I was a 4/1 favouraite. It really is frustrating to not get going in these but my luck will change. it has too!

Anyway, a great improvement to my BR today and I'm thrilled to be approaching the half way point. I am even more thrilled to more than double my target of £100 during my 2 week break. I was hoping to break the £400 barrier during that time but now I want to break £500 by tomorrow night!

BR £484.38 PP 342

benc · January 2014

Well played Craig bankroll is going up fast, nice cash!

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Thanks benc. Hows your challange going?

Day 52

Bit of an up and down day today. Cash was pretty much a disaster. I played for 4 1/2 hours for a total of a £8 loss. I went down £12 then up £17 and then down £13 again. I ran horrible in all but a few big pots and everytime I hit a hand I never got paid. I cant seem to dodge the bad beats every time I move up levels.

MTT wise I played two. Yet again in the £5BH I ran awful. I got busted early with QQ v AK when I called a four bet from an active player who promtly jammed allin on a low safe flop. I called and was glad to be against AK but I could not dodge the fabled A on the river. That river, its been a right bane of my poker life for quite a few months in a lot of important pots.

I again ran well in the £2BH. I had 3 heads and was going very well until I lost a big pot against A guy who limped UTG with Qh7h. I raised AK and got called. An Axx board with one heart saw me c'bet half and get called. A Kh looked good and again I bet and got called. Another heart saw the runnr runner flush come in but as I had little behind I had to go with it and find out the bad news. I did manage to stay calm and claw back in and end up 3/6 on the FT. 6th busted early and 5 handed play lasted a good half hour! I did get to 2nd to the huge chip leader but went out in two successive hands. First calling an shove from the shorty with KQ and was glad to see I was against K9 but as usual he hit his 9 on the turn. I then got K9 myself on the button and ran that into the big stacks AQ. I couldnt win a hand against the big stack despite having JJ v A5 and losing a big pot to rivered trips and having to fold two good hands to river jams. So, I finished 5th (and was gutted to see that it got heads up only a few hands later after being 5 handed for so long) and took a £16.75 profit which made up for my cash disaster.

So, I couldnt quite break £500 but I'm very pleased to be progressing so well despite a number of setbacks that could have seen my BR increase by quite some way. Hopefully that means that at some point the situations I put myself in will even out and I can enjoy a good bink.

BR £487.50 PP 433

Volume will now drop as everything returns to normal and work rears its ugly head again. I will use any down time to brush up on a few poker books on that ever lasting road to improvement.

calcalfold · January 2014

Craig

just wanted to pick you up on something you said on one of the tables the other moment. You raise 16p pre, another player (reg, not a great reg imo, but a reg nonetheless) raised to 40p you then re raise all in for stacks holding QQ.

You then announce that it is a cooler for you

I dont think this is a cooler vs a reg. Most regs tend to play their hands pretty face up.

Not saying the ship was terribad, personally vs said reg I call, and only ship here vs a spewtard. I would generally advise calling if you recognise the person making it 40p. Obv vs countess (supernit) we just fold pre.

but thats just my advice, feel free to ignore.

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Day 53

Only had enough time for a 45 min cash session and what a session! Despite a few hands I ran really well and for the first time I actually got paid on a hand on a MC table for a £36+ pot when I raised 1010 over 3 limpers and got calls in every spot! Not good. What was good was a A106 two diamond flop which saw me bet out and get raised. I thought about calling to keep in bluffs but on a connected board I didnt want to lose any action if a scare card came. I 3 bet then called the 4 bet shove and opponent had a set of 6's. Happy days for a change. In the past I would have got this in against a FD and not faded it.

I also hit a few other good hands to get paid to finish £22+ up and break £500 which I'm over the moon about. The progress I have made lately is fantastic and from thinking getting to £1000 may be a tough target I'm wondering if I can get more by May. I'm not kidding myself though and know there will be down swings but they are easier to deal with when you have had success. Once I get above £600 I'm really going to open up and have a go at some higher stakes and see what happens. If I drop a bit I will revert to what I am doing now to keep my confidence.

BR £510.14 PP 453

My only really bad hit today and I'm wondering if anyone can ever get away from this? I considered just flatting the reraise on the river but I still hada lot of hands I could beat so went allin. I can never put him on what he has and had the J paired and not the 8 I think I would have just flatted as there is then more hands that beat me.

Hand History #729401529 (17:53 06/01/2014)

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
Slish	Small blind		£0.02	£0.02	£5.04
CraigSG1	Big blind		£0.04	£0.06	£3.66
	Your hole cards	J 8
MAZZ1953	Call		£0.04	£0.10	£3.14
Wright1994	Call		£0.04	£0.14	£2.90
SALSACITY	Fold
Alarthur50	Call		£0.04	£0.18	£4.74
Slish	Fold
CraigSG1	Check
Flop
		Q 8 J
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.12	£0.30	£3.54
MAZZ1953	Fold
Wright1994	Call		£0.12	£0.42	£2.78
Alarthur50	Fold
Turn
		8
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.12	£0.54	£3.42
Wright1994	Call		£0.12	£0.66	£2.66
River
		K
CraigSG1	Bet		£0.50	£1.16	£2.92
Wright1994	Raise		£1.60	£2.76	£1.06
CraigSG1	All-in		£2.92	£5.68	£0.00
Wright1994	All-in		£1.06	£6.74	£0.00
CraigSG1	Unmatched bet		£0.76	£5.98	£0.76
CraigSG1	Show	J 8
Wright1994	Show	Q Q
Wright1994	Win	Full House, Queens and 8s	£5.53		£5.53

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Day 54

Hi all. Played 2 1/2 cash, mainly one table while I played MTT's and finished the day £8+ mainly due to a win aipf race with AK v JJ. Other than that nothing really happened but thats how it can go only playing 1 or 2 tables.

MTT wise I didnt get very far in the £2.30BH, losing a 3 way allin with A8s against two players that played every pot. I was hoping to only get called by one but the both did. One with 44 and the other J6s. An 8 got me started but a turned 4 then a rivered flush for the J6 saw me exit.

The £5BH, in which I have been running terrible, was an up and down affair. I was card dead from the start for an hour then managed a double up but that still had me short. But it did get me started and I managed to win a few small pots, one for a HP and then another HP came 20 mins later to give me a very good stack and things looked like they would turn around for me in these. But! After raising KQ over two limpers I hit top pr on a Q 10 7 board. The short stack pushed and I reraised allin only to see the other calling station call too. He had Q10 and the shortie J8o. Suffice to say I didnt improve and was down too 2 and a 1/5 BB's.

I managed to trebble then double up to about 13BB's and finally got it allin with A10 v KQ. Things looked good on a AJJ board and I was looking at an above average stack and a great comeback. I was thinking surely I cant get coolered again on the river and after a safe turn I was indeed hit by the 3 outer when the 10 hit. Sigh! 45/222 and yet again cant run good in the higher stakes. Hopefully this will just mean when I start on £11 MTT's I will get a bit of run good and forget the £5 ones all together!

If only poker worked like that! Still, Im very happy to still be moving up steadily and thanks to my C4P's payment I have now added just shy of £400 onto my starting BR. Very happy indeed.

BR £526.26 PP 482

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Day 55

Only time for a little session of about fourty minutes. Was going to play longer but got a huge headache and felt dizzy through a cold I have. At least it was a profitable one of £7+ and my BR continues to climb.

I want to move up stakes now but I dont want to be playing 'scared' poker. i can get into the right mindset most of the time but that often disappears if I go more than a couple of BI's down. Its all part of an education as I know the swings will increase but if I can get a few 'infront' as it where then I know I will settle down. For now I'm going to continue where I am but add slightly bigger buyin tables more often and that goes for MTT buyins.

BR £533.94 PP 498

devonfish5 · January 2014

hi Graig,

just a quickie as I'm off to work.
not had a chance to read much here..yet, will take a look laters.
you are certainly doing great just by looking at how your b/roll has been increasing, soi very well done.
(hopefully i'll follow you

Garyqqq knows a thing or two about building b/rolls so his tournament advise will always be good .
anyway mate, got to go

best wishes and keep it going.
nice 1.

dev
ps; you say u want to move up stakes is that cash too, to nl10?

CraigSG1 · January 2014

In Response to Re: HOLIDAY CHALLENGE £127.. TO (£1000 THE GOAL) CURRENT BR £533.94:

hi Graig, just a quickie as I'm off to work. not had a chance to read much here..yet, will take a look laters. you are certainly doing great just by looking at how your b/roll has been increasing, soi very well done. (hopefully i'll follow you Garyqqq knows a thing or two about building b/rolls so his tournament advise will always be good . anyway mate, got to go best wishes and keep it going. nice 1. dev ps; you say u want to move up stakes is that cash too, to nl10?
Posted by devonfish5

Hey!

Yes, GaryQQQs advice is great. It's his BR strategy and more importantly discipline that is a big part of this. I've not made the jumps up as quick as Gary but it's all about going at your own pace and playing at a level your not afraid to lose at. I think with this being a challenge I don't want to take huge steps back that I would usually be fine with. It's funny that as a poker player I'm not a huge gambler!

Saying all that, when my BR increases a little bit more I am going to move up. Yes, that does mean nl10 and some nl20 (rarely). I've been playing some nl10 but when I say move up I will completely go away from nl4 which I am still playing.

Thanks.

devonfish5 · January 2014

me again,

notice you post a fair number of hands.

do you post from the top of this page or from the lobby?
posting from this page gives a better result.
if you also slide the bar at the bottom of the hand to the right b4 you go 'blue' that helps.
also better leaving out the hand history number at the top of hand.
gl
dev

scotty77 · January 2014

hey

Just read thru this diary. what excellent work so far. will def use it as a reference point on the show!

I'd say just keep doing what you are doing. With progress like this the 1k mark shouldn't be that far away!

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Thanks to Devonfish and Scotty77. Its nice to hear positive feedback if not the key to success! But I guess thats a closely kept secret.

Day 56

No play.

Day 57

What a strange night! I havent felt quite right all night. Still suffering from the end of a cold so was going to make it an early night. I played an hour of cash, mainly one table at 5/10 to finish £4+ up somehow as my concentration just wasnt there.

What kept me going until gone nine was the fact that my two MTT's that I had already registered I had deep runs. Starting with the £5BH I got off to a good start doubling after 10 mins with AA v AK for a HP. I then lost two biggish pots, first calling an allins short stack with 77 only for him to have KK. Then I had AQs a few minutes later and lost a chunkc alling off first a very small stack (44) and a mid to low stack (KK again). I was then left short and with concentration going and not feeli 'with it' I expect to go ut soon. I didnt do anything drastic but did manage to double up and then double again with a HP and all of a sudden I was 7/100. I went up and down before eventually busting 33 (7 off bubble) when I reshoved with a PP only to lose a race. I could have held on but as we all know min cashing is not what we aim for. We aim to win.

The £2BH I did even better. Early on I just fluttered about, I was at my worst point there jsut trying to keep going. I cant remember much but I won a few big hands for HP's followed by periods of not much happening. It went like that for a couple of hours and I was short but healty during the bubble period. After another 45 mins we got to the final table bubble where I managed to go from 6/7 to 2/6 from a very long period of stealing blinds and pots while we where hand for hand. The final table went quick, with me busting three opponents before getting heads up with an almost 2/1 chip advantage.

Now, just as we got heads up my opponent got disconected. I could have quickly blinded him down but I didnt. I waited a good five minutes before raising my hands but each time waiting until the time bar was low. I was going to give another few minutes and eventually the guy did come back. He never said thanks that I waited but to be fair I didnt do it for him, I did it for me. I wanted to win fair if I could.

When we got to play I had the upper hand for a few minutes before I was coolered with a good top pair verses 2 pr. That decimated me and a few hands later my Q10 lost to K10. A dissapointing 2nd because I felt I had the HU edge but at the end of it 2/159 isnt to be sniffed at and an almost £40 profit.

So, without feeling great or 'with it' I managed to pick up a decent score and another high balance. Ive played miles better and had losing nights so it shows you how frustraing poker can be!

BR £580.47 PP 514

hhyftrftdr · January 2014

You make poker look easy. Bankroll just keeps going north!

Keep it up sir.

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Thanks hhyftrftdr, yeah, things are going very well. Too well. Ive had a lot of little wins and have had (ive not counted)...(ok, I will now...hang on) seven (cool, more than I thought) winning days on the trot. That is £167 in that time. Wow, thats really good for me. Ok, I cant quit work just yet but a hobby that actually makes you money is quite rare.

Now, this brings me on to my dilemma. Ive pretty much stayed at the same limits all the way through. Ive yet to play a £10 MTT even though my BR allows it. I will admit thats down to me not wanting to have a losing day (or days) and with my cash going well so far ive been able to win back and more my MTT entry fees. When I jump up this will be harder but I also sacrifice the ability to gain a big score. In GaryQQQ's thread he would have a lot of losing days (some of them quite big) but he would also ballance this out (and more) by gaining big scores.

So, do I stick with a winning formula or move up? Do I think I'm good enough? Yes. So why dont I? I cant answer that. I keep saying it, but I will move up soon. I think in the next few days.

Day 58

I felt a little better today but still not 100%. I had a little go at cash and thanks to this hand I finished +£10 after half an hour. I didnt want to push it as I still couldn't concentrate fully. MTT's are more formulatic and easier to coast in but you cant do that at cash.

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
pillip777	Small blind		£0.05	£0.05	£8.01
rob968313	Big blind		£0.10	£0.15	£13.45
	Your hole cards	3 3
pod1	Raise		£0.30	£0.45	£22.33
CraigSG1	Call		£0.30	£0.75	£19.99
pillip777	Call		£0.25	£1.00	£7.76
rob968313	Call		£0.20	£1.20	£13.25
Flop
		K Q 3
pillip777	Check
rob968313	Check
pod1	Bet		£0.90	£2.10	£21.43
CraigSG1	Call		£0.90	£3.00	£19.09
pillip777	All-in		£7.76	£10.76	£0.00
rob968313	Fold
pod1	Fold
CraigSG1	Call		£6.86	£17.62	£12.23
pillip777	Show	K Q
CraigSG1	Show	3 3
Turn
		3
River
		J
CraigSG1	Win	Four 3s	£16.29		£28.52

MTT's. Again I played the £2.30BH and the £5.75. I went up and down in each, being card dead for long periods but getting paid from most of the few hands I did get. In each I would get a big stack and then lose it before staying patient and getting it back again. I busted the final table bubble in the £2 when after doubling up against the big stack (and very call happy as well) with AQ v J10 I went out when I min raised (i was 3/7 at the time) with AKs and he 3 bet. I pushed and he snapped with KQo. A J10x flop had me sweating and he indeed spiked the 9 on the turn to knock me out 7/162. That stack was worth the chip lead so I was gutted. Another deep run though gained me £8+.

The £5BH I also cashed but went out when I 3 bet allin with AJ and got called by K7s (snap called I may add) and went out to a FH in 25/235.

Ive made a lot of deep runs lately with only a few good cashes. I guess thats the nature of MTT's. I may not gamble it up as much but I just try and always make the best decisions that will do me good in the long run and let the stacks take care of themselves.

Oh, yeah. Another milestone. I broke £600!!

BR £600.48 PP 530

Below is an example of why slow playing can get you into trouble. I make a standard blind steal on the button and take a small stab on the flop when checked too. On such a draw heavy board multiway the guy with the set should raise multiway and if he did I would have folded. By slow playing, which isnt terrible, his big mistake is to then just open shove allin. He scares away all the draws and weak made hands and noly gets calls by a hand that beats him or has very good equity.

Admittedly its the gin card for me but if I had had top pair or a decent PP or a lot of 2 pr hands I would fold here where by checking he keeps them all in AND thinking there the best hand. I have a better chance of pushing allin with these hands and then by calling we have a better chance of being ahead.

Player	Action	Cards	Amount	Pot	Balance
nick153	Small blind		30.00	30.00	4300.00
johny12345	Big blind		60.00	90.00	1440.00
	Your hole cards	7h 10h
bromhead08	Fold
jgdog	Fold
LySent2win	Fold
CraigSG1	Raise		120.00	210.00	2725.00
nick153	Call		90.00	300.00	4210.00
johny12345	Call		60.00	360.00	1380.00
Flop
		Kd 6d 9s
nick153	Check
johny12345	Check
CraigSG1	Bet		120.00	480.00	2605.00
nick153	Call		120.00	600.00	4090.00
johny12345	Call		120.00	720.00	1260.00
Turn
		8s
nick153	All-in		4090.00	4810.00	0.00
johny12345	All-in		1260.00	6070.00	0.00
CraigSG1	All-in		2605.00	8675.00	0.00
nick153	Unmatched bet		1485.00	7190.00	1485.00
nick153	Show	9c 9d
johny12345	Show	6c 7c
CraigSG1	Show	7h 10h
River
		2d
CraigSG1	Win	Straight to the 10	7190.00		7190.00

GaryQQQ · January 2014

The heater continues, happy times

To reach £600 after only 58 days is mighty impressive. It appears you aren't getting over confident despite the recent success and are maintaing excellent disipline. This will hold you in very good stead if a downswing is just around the corner.

At the moment I'd say you're a massive favourite to reach the target by May. You're doing so well that even a losing month wouldn't be enough to stop you now.

As for me; I'm enjoying the freedom now my BR challenge is over. My MTT heater continued for a while once I reached the target. Since Christmas the MTT success has dried-up, however I've balanced that by running very well in HU STTs.

After running like doggie-doo in MTTs tonight I allowed myself a degen moment and took on an elite player in a £31.50 HU hyper, something I would have dreamt of doing while my diary was running. It was all over in two hands. I won and quit for the night

LARSON7 · January 2014

Hey

Well done on the successes.

Bankroll has fairly jumped recently, very nice work.

What you could do is say I've won £40 quid today, tomorrow i'll have a go at a £10 quid mtt, and just look at it like a £30 quid profit day. Treat it almost like a freeroll, so win or lose, you are not adversely affected. So that afterwards whatever the outcome it wont affect you.

Might even get a nice wee bink to fastforward to 1k!

Definatly no harm in throwing in a larger buy in tournie every now and again.

Also maybe worthwhile playing a few sats for the main events.

Anyway good luck on the path to 1k!

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Hi Gary, thanks for your words. I have been very disciplined for three reasons. 1) This being a public diary it helps me avoid going crazy and helps me focus on my goal 2) Success helps. With things going well I havent changed what Ive done and just let thinmgs progress and 3) your diary helped show me how important BR management is.

Like you when this is over I will relax and play bigger tournaments but I will also have learnt to be more disciplined. Its been a fantastic learning curve for me already.

Hi Larson, I will definatley think of doing that, I like that attitude a lot. And you are right, I do need to play sats more. Ive stated before that my game is definatley suited to this format and I just need to give it a go.

Thanks both of you.

CraigSG1 · January 2014

Day 59

It had to end and it did. I finished down today. But, at the moment I'm happy and I wasnt a few minutes ago.

I'll start with cash. I had an hour this morning and nothing really happned and finished £4 down. In the afternoon I played for two hours on two 5/10 MC and for 15 mins on a 10/20 MC table. Things got off to a bad start, I lost a 3 way allin for all my stack with me having nut flush draw and a gutshot to the nut straight against two pair and a set! Allin on the flop and as usual my draw missed. I couldn't hit or fade draws and just kept losing. I lost another big pot when I folded flopped top two pair on the turn against two allins. I was behind to both.

So, coming to the end I was about £35 down cash wise. That was until I had a successful 15 mins at the 10/20MC, picking off a river bluff and then hitting a set and winning the shorties stack to finish £15 up. On my 2nd to last hand on my last 5/10 MC table I was dealt QQ and raised. A guy who had given me so much stick just shoved his entire stack allin (he had constantly reraised me big on rivers where I would love to call but after having very strong hands on the flop the board ran out a four flush and a four straight or overs to my hands on four occassions.) and I called. He turned over Q5s and I gleefully collected the pot to take me £6+ up on the afternoon.

MTT wise I played the two ££Bh's but in the first just couldn't get anything going. Lasted a long while and took one HP but eventually bust in a race. The 2nd BH I got off to a brilliant start, getting a HP and doubling first hand with AK. I raised big over limpers and got two calls. I continued on a A high flop with two spades. I got one call. The turn came a 3rd spade but I did have the K of spades and the nut draw. Normally I would bet but I had notes on this guy as basically a maniac so I checked. He quickly moved allin and I called. He had 85dd and 3rd pair. I made my flush for good measure and took him out. I then won a big pot next hand with trips but couldnt get the allin call on the river after he had showed so much strength. My demise came just after the break when I had KK against another big stack. After a big 3 bet got called a low flop saw me continue. I again had notes on this player and knew he probably had a decent PP that was an over pair to the board. I made another big bet on a low turn and then a river came that put a 4 card straight out there. The only hand that beat me realistically was 1010 but I had to bet river for value as JJ and QQ where all in his range. I got called and lost all but 500 chips which was gutting. I then got 55 and was called in 2 spots by 44 and A7 and both hands got there!

I played my biggest MTT of the challange so far, an £11BH but again I ran so bad. I made a few hands but couldn't get paid and missed out on four bounties (two at the same time when I suffered lagg and couldnt call the two shorties allin with a decent hand that would have won. I eventually busted when I was snap called allin when I had A9 against Q10. He obviously flopped trips and truned a full house.

If I look at it from the start of the weekend Ive added £54 to my BR so lets have that as a win! This day could have been far worse so i'll take that as another win.

BR £587.49 PP 607

cenachav · January 2014

Going well so far mate. Keep it up and you will have your target very soon. Was on your table for the BH and enjoyed myself. One word of advice if I may. Check stack sizes, when you called the oppo with the KK v TT hand when he rivered the straight, he left 22.5 chips behind. If you are going to call there you may as well raise to get his head if you win. It would be heartbreaking if he had QQ there and you got the chips but left him in for someone else to take out.

Keep up the run good mate

CraigSG1 · January 2014

In Response to Re: HOLIDAY CHALLENGE £127.. TO (£1000 THE GOAL) CURRENT BR £587.49:

Going well so far mate. Keep it up and you will have your target very soon. Was on your table for the BH and enjoyed myself. One word of advice if I may. Check stack sizes, when you called the oppo with the KK v TT hand when he rivered the straight, he left 22.5 chips behind. If you are going to call there you may as well raise to get his head if you win. It would be heartbreaking if he had QQ there and you got the chips but left him in for someone else to take out. Keep up the run good mate
Posted by cenachav

Hi, yeah. I noticed you, I wasnt happy to have you on my table

Anyway, I admit I never noticed and that is one thing I always do look for. i was just concentrating on the hand as it was a very, very big pot and I was thinking of just checking the river but I thought that was too nitty as if he had JJ,QQ I would have cursed my self! I put 1010 as his very least as I didnt think he would call such big bets with it. I would probably have folded 1010myself!

cenachav · January 2014