PStars Update: Pumped for the SCOOP

So it's been awhile since I last wrote but not because I haven't been playing. The week of 8-14 I was doing alot of losing. Cash games, heads-up and sit&go's the whole deal. The only saving grace I had from keeping the week from being a complete disaster. I finished 2nd in a 18 players S&G. I was pretty happy with the results considering I was 8th in chips at the final table and when the blinds were 400 had 470 in chips. I double up in key spots. So for the week I was down 3.87 for the week (my worst point in the week I was down 8.67).

I reevaulated my bankroll and started to buy-in to cash games for a dollar instead of three so I would avoid bad beats, bluffing to much and risking too much of my bankroll. So for the first half of the week I was buy-in for a dollar. It was a slow grind but I was making profit. And then I heard about the new Pokerstars tournament the SCOOP and the different buy-ins for each level. I've always wanted to play in a big prize pool tournaments. So this motivated me to get my bankroll up. I have stated to buy-in for $5 dollars and the nearly killed my bankroll.

One of the first 10 hands I called a raise from SB w/ 66 (for .08 cents), guy from the BB reraises to .14. I immediately put him on AA,KK or AK, More likely one of the first two. I call only to hit a set because otherwise I am in trouble. I flop: 6 8 10. I check with the intention of raising. I check he bets .24 cents, raise to .74. He moves all-in and has my 5 dollars covered (or whatever it was) I tanked for a second, just to think if he had a better set but they way the hand played out I figured KK or AA. I call he shows KK and hits a King on the river.

I was on tilt to say the least but I wasn't going to go out like that I bought back in for 5 dollars with only 6 dollars left in my accounts. It took my three hours but I got my money back plus a little profit with the last pot coming at the expense of the KK guy.

Breakdown:

By Game

Cash games +14.71

18 Player S&G's +4.20

9 Player S&G's -3.60

Heads Up S&G -4.80

By Week

Feb 1-7 +5.54

Feb 8-14 -3.87

Feb 15-21 +7.57

Feb 22-28 +1.27

So I'm hoping to get my bankroll up and make enough to play in some SCOOP events. Of course I'll update my progress

Current PStars Bankroll: $23.44

PStars Bankroll: Breaking 20 dollars, Tilt & Playing Well?

Since my last entry I have been on the upswing, I have finally broken 20 dollars with the free 5 dollar pokerstars gave me. I thought this would happen alot earlier (on the Jan 5th entry I set a goal of 20 dollars by the end of the next week). So far I have made 10.25 from .01/.02 cash games this week.

This number would have been much higher had I had not blown 3 hands. After playing a session getting my bankroll up to 19.66 I decided to reward myself with a heads-up S&G. I always raise and bluff at the first pot, to feel my opp. out to see if they are going to fold and give me respect early. And from there I see if I will be the aggressor or trap them. Well he folded the first hand but after that he got very aggr. He hit runner runner against me to complete a straight, so I was down about 1800 to 1200 early. He started to raise big on the button and even off the button (as I started to limp so I could trap him). He raised on the button like 4 times BB (too much for my taste). I finally picked up a non-folding hand (I folded early to make him think he could run me over) KJ. I reraise to 240. He moves all-in. I snap call, he shows K6 suited, I'm a 65% favorite he flops a 6 and I lose.

I've been trying not to let bad beats bother me...you great starting hand is just that a starting hand, but I got Tilted with this beat. I was very hungry and I think that had something to do with it (lol). So I went immediately to a Cash game. Long story short....flop three diamonds...I have no diamonds...guy bets....I think I am Kenny Tran or something putting him on something else other than flush...5 on the turns...guy bets turn, moves in on river...I for some reason think I am best with top pair...the only thing I can beat is like a weaker King (with worse than Q kicker)....I call...he shows trip 5's....Goodbye three dollars

Next day first hand in BB. Queens. Guy moves in one off the button...I tank...I put him on AK or AQ figuring he gets no value out of anything better...I call for my 3 dollars...Sidebar: I hate how Pokerstars turn up the hands after the river on a all-in, where's the drama?...I'm stuck guessing card helps him...anyway he shows AA...goodbye three dollars.

While I think the Heads-Up S&G wasn't my fault the other two were and I could be up 6 dollars more had I not making these plays. I had made a rule that I will only go all-in pre flop with AK, AA, or KK. I got too much of my bankroll in play to be making many all in moves.

After a lost those two 6 dollar, I made 4.80 later that night. Which to me raise the question: I am good or these guys just that bad? The answer is obviously a generalization but I think for the most part they are bad. Examples...guy moves all-in with top-top (9 with A kicker), I call with jacks...Guy call my river bet with top pair medium kicker...Guy bets half his amount with no pair when I have the nuts (him drawing dead), I raise him the rest and he is forced to call. I still I think I am alright player but the .01/.02 is not filled with amazin players.

New rule...once I break an increment of 5 (ex $20...$25...$30 etc.) I reward myself with a S&G. I think I am going to play a Single table next.

Current PStars Banrkoll: $20.98