Grinding For Flush Draws

Back to Basics

2009-12-09T21:05:00.000-08:00

Well, back to posting here, and back to some basic low level grinding. Been thinking a lot about the UBOC, and decided that I am going to make a small deposit ($25-50) on UltimateBet and try to grind the steps to get entries into the UBOC 4 tourneys. Unhappy that I have to dep on UB/AP to do it, but I think there is really good value in the tourneys. My schedule to qualify is as follows:

-Week 1 (December 14th-20th): Step 1
-Week 2 (December 21st-27th): Step 2
-Week 3 (December 28th-January 3rd): Steps 3-4
-Week 4 (January 4th-January 10th): Steps 5-7
-Week 5 (January 11th-January 17th): Steps 8-10

I know that I will probably need more than one week for the step 1s, but I think this is a good start to a schedule. I will try to remember to update this as I qualify (and hopefully end up playing) for the UBOC. Thanks for reading.

A good Sunday, and a WCOOP dream

2009-08-31T09:46:00.001-07:00

Well, I got a new job, and to celebrate, I wanted to try to qualify for the Sunday Million. I won a qualifier, unregged, and then won another so I played. Did not win any money in it, got about half way through the field, and then had 9s lose to 4s on the river 4. Was kind of sickening. I managed to take my $55 deposit and run it up to about $270, which was awesome. Going to play the Hundred Grand tonight.

I have also decided to try to qualify for some of the WCOOP events. The ones I am going to try to play are:

1. Event #26: $215 No Limit Hold'Em with $1,000,000 Guaranteed.
2. Event #28: $1,050 No Limit Hold'Em (2-Day Event) with $3,000,000 Guaranteed.
3. Event #43: $215 No Limit Hold'Em with $1,000,000 Guaranteed.
4. Event #45: $5,200 No Limit Hold'Em Main Event (2-Day Event) with $10,000,000 Guaranteed.

If I get some success in these, obviously I would fill in with some more, but those are the main four. Going to start the steps this week.

A good start

2009-08-01T09:06:00.001-07:00

I lost $4 on the day, but was a good day. I deposited $75 (was going to be $125, but kept some to pay for other things). Did not do very well, and it dropped to $20ish.

Then, instead of just tilting my money away (like I normally would), I did what people have told me to do for a long time, and I dropped down levels. Also played a double or nothing to win some money (which I did), but more importantly to get some confidence back in my game. Got 1st, 4th, and 6th in some $3.25 45 mans, a 12th in a 90 man, and then the double or nothing match. That was all in about 7 or 8 games.

I was making a lot of smart folds, which I never do. I am always the one who tells myself I am beat, but let's call 75% of my stack just to see it. So I hope I can keep working that out of my game, as the results last night may be a showing of why you fold.

The other thing that was weird was I got pocket aces to no action four times and pocket kings no action three times. That was just frustrating to no end. haha.

Going to keep the deadlines the same and see how today goes, but I am really happy with my game...for now...

An old goal revisited

2009-07-29T19:53:00.000-07:00

If you can't tell by now, I kinda like goals. So the goal I had before, I am going to revisit. Going to deposit on Friday, and attempt to go up one level every two weeks. If I can move up in one week, I will. The amounts below are the SnG and Multi-table SnGs Buyins I am playing, but will fit MTTs around that buy in level. So, if it takes two weeks per level, I will be at the $335ish SnGs by 11/06/09. Here are the level details.

1. $6.50
2. $12 multitable SnGs/$16 SnGs: By August 14th. Bankroll at a minimum of $250.
3. $27: By August 28th. Bankroll at a minimum of $550.
4. $38: By September 11th. Bankroll at a minimum of $775.
5. $60: By September 25th. Bankroll at a minimum of $1250.
6. $114: By October 9th. Bankroll at a minimum of $2400.
7. $225: By October 23rd. Bankroll at a minimum of $5750.
8. $335: By November 6th. Bankroll at a minimum of $7000.

Also, besides just getting to the bankroll amounts, I will have to have done a withdrawal in that time frame before I move up. Once I get to the $335 mark (if I do), I will probably play that level for about a week or two and then move down to $114/225 to have more buyins. I will blog my updates, but it will start this week. I am hoping to get it done by February 2010, as I am sure there will be setbacks, but if I were to do it on time would be sick! Good luck me!

Busto again plus a reality check

2009-07-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well, as usual, I went busto. At this point in time, I am really trying to figure out a few things in both poker and regular life. I am trying to see what job I want, etc. and trying to come up with what I can do to change my poker. I am seeking coaching on some of the forums I check out. See what happens. Will let you know.

One thing that I did do was email PokerStars to get my year to date Deposits/Withdrawals. So far, I have 0 withdrawals, which I am surprised by. And then came the gut check. Total deposits: $2,892.00. I had no idea. Well, I will be keeping that in mind as I try to make a plan.

Disappointing

2009-07-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

Well, last night was disappointing to say the least. When I played good, I got coolered. When I played bad, the other player's hand won. For instance, on a flop full of babies, I was raised all my chips with QQ. I knew the other guy had KK or AA since he was very aggressive in early position preflop. So of course I called to see the rockets. Just dumb plays like that. So hopefully will play better and more focused tonight. Trying to look at the positive that I am still up on my deposit, but a little disappointed in my play last night.

Back to blogging...Will it help?!

2009-07-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I am once again trying to at least make a new bankroll last longer than normal. So if I blog, maybe I will not play as much or whatever. Anyways, here is last night's events:

Starting bankroll: $150
1. 45-man TURBO-Buyin: $12.00-Finished 3rd-$77.00
2. Negranu Open-$11.00-Finished 2nd of 17-$51.00
3. 180-man-$4.40-Finished 54th-$0.00

Played some $0.25/$0.50 NLHE Cash 6-man this morning. Started with $25 and left with $50.25.

So thus far, made bankroll from $150 to $275. I will try to post more often with hands and such, but here is a start.

No FTOPs...New Plan

2008-01-28T20:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I have made a decision recently to attempt to move to the Ft. Lauderdale area from Minnesota. I have a friend doing an internship down there, and figured it would be a great experience for a 21 year old. So instead of bumping up my online poker bankroll, I have decided to challenge myself to not deposit again until I get to Miami. It appears that the move would be in about a month. This is a great oppurtunity for me to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk".

For three years now, I have told myself, my friends, and my family that I can succeed in life and also play poker. That has led me to living with my parents, having no social life, and so forth. I have set this challenge to prove to myself that I can play poker, enjoy it, and also have a happy and successful life. So FTOPs is no longer a viable option. The only one I am even considering as a possibility is the Main Event, but since I am decreasing the amount of poker I play, it would seem to be harder to get a bankroll in time to qualify. So for now, my life and my poker life are about to merge like never before...and that's walking...

FTOPs VII...here I go again

2008-01-13T22:02:00.001-08:00

Hello again. As part of my New Year's Resolutions, I decided I wanted to try to post here more often. So, now two weeks later, here I go.

FTOPs VII is about to start on Full Tilt Poker, and I am going to try my best to qualify for some events this time. I usually wait a while and then try to qualify late in the game, but this time I am starting almost as soon as the qualifiers came out. My main events I am focusing on are:

Event #1: $200+16 NLHE ($750,000 Guaranteed)
Event #4: $200+16 PLHE ($100,000 Guaranteed)
Event #5: $200+16 FLHE 6-max ($150,000 Guaranteed)
Event #8: $120+9 NLHE Knockout 6-max ($150,000 Guaranteed)
Event #9: $300+22 NLHE ($1,000,000 Guaranteed)
Event #10: $1,000+60 6-max ($1,000,000 Guaranteed)
Event #14: $300+22 Razz ($150,000 Guaranteed)
Event #15: $200+16 NLHE 6-max ($150,000 Guaranteed)
Event #17: $2,500+120 NLHE Two-Day Event ($1,500,000 Guaranteed)
Event #19: $240+16 NLHE Knockout ($300,000 Guaranteed)
Event #20: $500+35 NLHE Main Event ($2,000,000 Guaranteed)

I know it is a lot, so I am hoping I get in atleast half of them. Working on Event #1 right now. Anyways, I will try to update you on the progress here in the next month on a regular basis. Please post if you want to say hi! Talk you you all later!

Kinda dumb

2007-10-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

So last night I started working on the freeroll and stakes challenge and finished for a total of $0.00. I built a good stack up in one freeroll and left for awhile. Came back about 75 people to the money, saw pocket 7s. It would have taken 10 minutes tops to get into money. So I push and a guy has Rockets and I am out. Dumb. Everything went bad last night too. Then I have played two freerolls today. One was AK suited loses to A 4 off suit...on the first hand. The other was JJ against 66...on the first hand...beautiful 6 on the flop. So in two freerolls, I managed to play two hands. Sigh.

Freeroll to Bankroll

2007-10-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Well, right now I am trying something I never have. I am going to actually make a poker bankroll solely on Freerolls and stakes. Normally, I join freerolls and accept stakes, but I never really try as hard as I should. But I think if I try my best, I can probably slowly move up the ranks and buyins. My main goal is to get into the PokerStars PCA qualifying steps and try to win a seat into that tourney. But for now, I need a bankroll. GL to me!

Life is good

2007-10-16T21:08:00.000-07:00

WHOA! Been way to long without a post. I am in the middle of going through bartending school, which is great fun, so hopefully I can start full time within a month and get out of my cube. It sounds like I will actually get more money doing bartending, so I can move to my own place and play some more poker than I do now! Thus life is not good....it is EXCELLENT!

In Shock

2007-08-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

At the moment, poker does not seem all that important. I am playing a SnG as I am typing this and drinking an Amstel Light, but I live in Minnesota, and seeing the images of the bridge collapsing in the state I live in is a huge reality check. The story that has touched me most is that a school bus full of 60 kids around the age of 12 fell with the bridge into the water and all 60 made out alive. Once I sort my thoughts out tomorrow, I will be posting again. But right now, I am reflecting and am in shock.

Changing it up a little bit

2007-07-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

Well, the grind that was the previous mentioned goal is not working. So my new goal is to be a good BR manager, play more deepstack tourneys (like the 90 man SnGs on Full Tilt/Qualify for Sunday tourneys), and try to just become a smarter player. My main weakness is that I know I am beat, but call a lot of times. Daniel Negreanu has said numerous times that he has this weakness as well, so I hope I can do better now. My goal of this week, however, is to get into the Sunday Million and the FTP Sunday tourney, and then cash. I have also started a "partnership" with someone to talk strategy on an almost nightly basis. So hope that helps. Peace!

3rd times a charm?

2007-07-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

Well, I lost my original, then I got drunk and made a second and lost it (yes, lol). So now I shall try a 3rd attempt. We will see though. Got to go. Bye!

As usual...

2007-06-28T02:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I pulled a me yesterday. I started my session yesterday with about $175. I decided to switch it up and play Limit cash game. I played $1/$2 Limit HE while I was playing a $25 buyin multi-table tourney. I proceeded to lose $100 on the cash game and get knocked out on the bubble of the tournament. So I went from being close to moving up levels in SnGs to nearly broke. Good for me. So started today with like $52, but have not cashed in my first two SnGs. Lucky number three, right? If I don't cash in this, it's off to the $2's. Oh brother.

In the beginning...

2007-06-24T20:34:00.001-07:00

...I had $117.40. Tonight is the official start to my goal. I figure I have eight stages, and each stage is a different buyin level. Using the SnG buyins, they are:

1. $6+1
2. $10+1
3. $20+2
4. $30+3
5. $40+4
6. $65+6
7. $100+9
8. $200+15

So basically, I need to move up one level a week. Now, I will add MTTs that are around that buy in as well as Multi-Table SnGs to mix it up, but that is my goal. If I am at the $200+15s by week 8, then my goal is reached. So off to playing.

It is decided!

2007-06-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. So one semester of JUST tuition at the Community College I might go to is just under $2500. So my goal is $3500. That will leave me with $500 to leave in my poker BR and $500 for other college expenses. My paychecks will be helping to pay bills and the like. So the goal is this.

STARTING THIS SUNDAY AT $100, I WILL HAVE $3500 IN 8 WEEKS!!!

Poker Goal

2007-06-20T23:08:00.000-07:00

Hello. One more post tonight. I was bored and was browsing the Full Contact Poker forums (www.fullcontactpoker.com), and notice a post about some guy starting with $100 and wanting to make it $20,000 in 8 weeks. I thought this was a pretty cool idea. So I am going to make a goal that will officially start this Sunday, June 24th. I am going to start with $100 on Absolute Poker. In 8 weeks, I want to have enough for one semester of tuition for my college. I will work on the number later, but wanted to get this idea on here now.

Life Post #1

2007-06-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. Have not posted in awhile. Not been playing too much poker other than a freeroll here and there. Been trying to figure out life right now. I am thinking I am going to go back to college this fall. If I do, I will probably go to Des Moines Area Community College, and go to the Ankeny campus. They have a partnership program with Iowa State, and Ankeny is about 15 minutes drive from Ames. So I could live with my buddies in Ames and drive to school. Other options are to keep working as a temp and part-time with my mom, Mercy Corps, become a poker dealer, military, etc. My mom, my dad and I are going to meet on Monday night to discuss my future, so I will be able to let you know then. Hopefully then I can get back on track pokerwise. So anyways, going up to my cabin this weekend and going to run a 5k. That is 3.1 miles, and I am not in good shape at all. So completing it will be a huge accomplishment. My goal is to be done in 40 minutes or less, but it will be hard. That is all for now!

Pretty Disappointing finish

2007-06-12T22:51:00.000-07:00

Hey again. Was playing in a $5 multi table tonight on UltimateBet. Was down to 25 people and top 20 get the money. I get dealt 10s. I raise it 3x BB and BB calls. Flop is 10 4 K. I check, he does too. Turn is a K. I check, he min bets. I call. River is a 6. I bet half the pot. He pushes, which is an all in for me, which I insta-call to see a K 10 for him. So my 10s full loses to Kings full. Any feedback on how I played the hand is appreciated, but I am going to bed after that.

1st Long Post

2007-06-12T18:51:00.001-07:00

Okay. Time to get a long post out there so I can explain who I am.

My name is Phil (no good poker players named Phil, right?). I am 21 and working as a temp in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I went to college full time for one year and then began working. Now I am trying to get back into school and just trying to figure out when and where.

I have been on the ups and downs of being a poker addict, so now I am trying to figure out better ways to enjoy poker without it hurting me moneywise, etc. When I flunked out of college (Iowa State, by the way), I began working and really got addicted in a bad way to poker. I stole from family and distanced myself from friends because I convinced myself that the only way for me to "get out" of my situation was to win big in poker. Little poker ego trip issue. That went on for about a year. Then I got caught by the family, got yelled at, went through the grief, etc. Which basically brings me to now.

My focus now is to try to get a general business degree, and then use that to get into some sort of poker business. That way I can get a college degree (big accomplishment in life) and enjoy poker. I have also decided to use better Bankroll management, but that is for a later post.

Now, to end on happier things, I am known in the online poker world as PillyPill. I play on the following sites under that screenname:

-Absolute Poker
-Bodog Poker
-Full Tilt Poker
-PokerStars
-Sportsbook.com Poker
-UltimateBet

So if you see a guy playing on those sites as PillyPill, that would be this guy. Anyways, I will leave it at that for now. If something comes up, I will post again! See ya until then!

Welcome

2007-06-11T21:14:00.001-07:00

Hey. I am just typing a welcome message. Thanks for checking out my blog. This is going to be about my life, and a lot about poker. So keep checking for updates as I hope to post daily for you guys!