Part time Poker

End of Month 1 Round Up

2005-11-30T22:21:00.000Z

Been an interesting month. Have enjoyed the fact that I can play poker as and when I feel like it.
I only played for 13 days out of 30, but that was fine by me, and now for the results...

Day. Profit / Hours

1. $18 /3
2. $67 / 3
3. $72 / 4
4. $0 / 2
5. $40 / 1.5
6. $53 / 2.5
7. $41 / 3
8. -
9. $59 / 3
10. -
11. $58 / 8
12. $26 / 3*
13. $4 / 3*

*$50 bonus cleared over these days but still pending, so not included in account.

Total Profit: $438
Total Hours: 36
Total Profit/Hour: $12.16

That's £7 an hour tax free!
Im happy with that

Day 13

2005-11-30T03:07:00.000Z

Played some random games tonight.
Played an NL cash game with a free $10 I got from a site, wanted to ante up quickly and busted when I got my money in with a straight & flush draw, I made the nut flush but opponent back into runner runner full house. Was only messing on the freeroll so I wont include in end of month account.

Mainly played the same as last night, a mix of levels and limit holdem and omaha 8+. Ran my chips up quickly but my game and attention strayed so I only ended up about $4 for around 3hours play. I shoulve released a fair bit of bonus in this time, but I cant be sure until Ive played the full quota, as there is no raked hand counter on Diamond Club.

Account coming tomorrow as im tired, and limit holdem is on live @ the bike.

Day 12

2005-11-29T04:51:00.000Z

Just killing some time while watching live @ the bike I decided to work on a new bonus @ Diamond Club Poker. Of which I cant be sure how much I cleared until it is totally released.

I played for under 3 hours of various stakes limit holdem on up to 3 tables, and for the 1st time I played some limit O8+, as the game just looked so soft, and I like to play all the games. I played various limits, as there werent many tables running, so no idea on BBs. Playing profit was $26.26, mainly thanks to destroying one holdem table for 40BBs (@.25/.50).

Tomorrow is the final day of month one, so I might do a round up, and perhaps start a new blog or list for month 2.

Days 10 & 11

2005-11-27T22:35:00.000Z

Didnt post on day 10, I was steaming too much :o)

I decided to play at Paradise (hardly!) Poker. They had a reload bonus and I fancied my chances against the loose passive games.

I played 3 tables of .5/1 limit holdem for a total of about 8 hours, over the two days.

After the first few orbits the tone was set for the duration, even though I made some great folds, that I might not normally make, I was still stuck bad.
I hadnt had a losing session for a while, and I suppose it was a matter of time, but this was abnormal. After the 1st night I was very stuck, and at these times you just dont want to be raising my BB (lol). I probably shouldnt, but when losing I sometimes decide to work on my blind defence and stealing, but Im pretty sure my A or B game is better than this.
I think I made the right adjustments for these loose passive games, maybe I played a bit too loose from certain positions. But to have a comfortable hand at showdown on these tables you will need a big hand, close to, or maybe even, the nuts. Other than that im in a raising war against 4 people with top pair top kicker to make them pay to hit a set, kicker, backdoor draw or any random hand they are calling me with, which they inevitably hit when a 'blank' falls on the river. Because of this I like to play big suited cards, straightening cards and pocket pairs, from many positions, because I can really hammer my opponents when these hit, and they will pay to draw dead.

Before this session I was thinking of playing poker on my travels in america to get some money together, the play @ any limits in the casinos just looks too inviting, and I think I could make some money on a pretty measly bankroll, and maybe move up limits. But after the varience Ive encountered at these loose games I think it would be hard for me to manage consistently.

Maybe Im over-reacting to what is my first playing loss for a while, but there was lots of money to be made, and I was unhappy not to get any of it. I did make money overall, but there are no such bonuses to be made when playing live in a casino, plus you have to beat the rake and the toke!

After all was said and done I ran to the cashier with $58 of gross profit.

Day 9

2005-11-23T01:39:00.000Z

After getting notification of only £20 bonus yesterday I went back to Ritz Club London to get the last £5. Was told that I would have to play for another hour without break to get the last of the bonus. That means my playing profit from yesterday was bigger than I expected!

I played a only a few orbits, got AK second hand and lost a decent pot to a big fish at the table, who had K2 and spiked his kicker on the turn. The table broke up but the fish was left and I wanted my money back, so I was UTG with 66 and raise (5 handed), everyone folds to fish who called, I think there were 2 overcards but I just thought Id bet into them for value the whole way, and my 66 held up to get my money back. I left the table as only 3 or 4 were left playing, and my shorthanded game isnt too good. A few minutes later I got an email saying I had released the last £5 of bonus, sweet!

Meanwhile, I played a $2 PLO8+ SNG @ Absolute Poker, and continued my good run there taking the top prize ($9), I wont count this towards my winnings as Im freerolling at Absolute for a while.

I struggled to get a 1/2 game elsewhere so Im calling it a night.

Revised (total) earnings for day 8&9 are: $59
Day 8 will be edited accordingly

Day 8

2005-11-22T01:15:00.000Z

Playing 3 hours of 1/2 limit holdem @ Ritz Club London.

My game was neither here or there today, by my own standards I would consider it average. But I got the better of the game in the end. Ended up around 5BBs ($10) for playing profit. Cleared £20 in bonus. Total profit continued onto day 9.

Not much else to report. Apart from one day I may be able to laydown top pair with a big kicker lol.

Next up is The Gaming Club. The 1/2 games ive struggled with there, but after some more experience at the tighter tables I will go into them with confidence. However, if I spot softer games at lower levels, and I can clear bonus at lower levels, I may drop back down for a little bit, or mix it up.

Day 7

2005-11-18T01:48:00.000Z

Playing 3 hours of 1/2 limit holdem @ ukbetting.

What a rollercoaster! Quickly up 10BBs, bled away for a while, then took a few hits in a row, got down 15BBs, right in the last few orbits of the night I got up 3 or 4BBs, and in my last hand (KK) lost a decent pot. Ended up down 1BB ($2), the way things were running, I was happy with that, as Id convinced myself that this was an overdue loosing session, but tryed to keep a clear mind, not try to win back my losses, just to carry on playing solid (which in the past I had found hard to do, especially at higher levels.. can you say TILT!).

I also cleared £25 in bonus. Total earnings of $41 at the close of business.

Today shouldve been all about saving bets, many of which I did not save, but I certainly didnt lose pots by being passive! And picked up some nice pots with A high at showdown, many of which wouldve been lost passively. I'm learning though, and feel my poker is getting there, and the adjustments are being made for playing against much tighter opponents.

I play very tight, solid and agressive. But players quickly find out I dont defend my blind much at all when out of position, and it costs me. But saying that, a player who stole my blind virtually every chance they could was actually my main sourse of funds. They would often call my early position raise from the BB when it was going to be heads up, and would then try to outplay me. They were calling with VERY marginal hands (K8o I saw once). Maybe this was their style, and they seemed like they could play, but I got the better of all of these confrontations, extracting the most at every opportunity. They also spotted that I would keep firing at the pot with anything in these battles, and I had made some good (thoughtout) calls, im not just talking about blind betting, but solid play, this meant they would pay me off with lesser hands than usual.

Im all for giving action to get action, but in limit you sometimes need credit to pick up pots without the best of it. When my post flop play is better and I can get away from more hands I may loosen up. In these games advertising really goes un-noticed, but clever opponents may spot that I can easily play AQ like AA or top set and vice versa.

Day 6

2005-11-17T01:43:00.000Z

Playing 2 tables of 1/2 limit holdem @ totalbet for 2 1/2 hours.

Played nicely. I was very conservative, but I was still getting paid. Probably the most disciplined I have played in one session. My value betting was better, more thoughtout. I only paid off one opponent when I thought I was beat, they either had one specific card or nothing, they had the card.

I ended up $10 for the session. I was extatic with that. 1BB per hour (per table) I feel is very good in these games. I cleared £25 in bonus, which is just over $40. Cashout profit will be $53. But I may leave the money there for next months offer (if my bankroll will allow that).

Day 5

2005-11-10T00:37:00.000Z

Playing 2 tables of 1/2 limit holdem at William Hill for a bout an hour and a half.

I played well, only lost one showdown I think. Where someone called my flop bet with an underpair and made a set on the turn, I couldve got away from it I suppose. They had limped with 66 UTG (random play i know, didnt see much of that). I had K8s in the BB and got in for free and flopped top pair (8), I bet, and just knew this player was 'taking one off', when I got raised on the turn it was pretty clear I was beat, but paid it off. In retrospect they couldve easily held a pocket pair bigger than 8s and played it this way.

Ended up $30 for the session, and released £10 ($17) in bonus.
On cashout I was up $40. ($45 in bonus and -$5 playing)

Im ok with that, been a while since playing 1/2, and have confidence these games are beatable.
More of the same to come in the next next.

Tonight is the whale game on the liveatthebike.com webcast, ill be watching that for sure, loads of action!

Day 4

2005-11-09T00:45:00.000Z

Playing 2 tables of 1/2 limit holdem @ William Hill
Cleared £20 ($35) in 2 hours of play. Playing loss was the same -$35

Will spare you the full story, I played ok, had some big hands, and got paid, but made mistakes in paying off hands, just so happened that most of them were battle of the blinds, so I gave less credit to the BB when I was the SB raiser.

One interesting hand came up, I had red AA in the cutoff, a player from mid position limped in and I raised. BB called as did limper. Flop was 37J hearts, ok, could be a worse flop, as I have nut redraw. Checked to me and I bet, limper calls. Turn is a black J, and it's checked to me again, I pause for a looong time, and so nearly checked, but I bet, and of course, got raised. Had to call. River was a blank and I call the limpers bet to see what id expect: AJ. Checking did have benefits on the turn, I wouldve got a free shot at the nut flush, if they had Q hearts I might win 2 bets on the end, or I might induce a bluff, but that did cost me.

I was happy with how I played my hands when I clearly had the best of it, but not at all happy with hands that became marginal. The players are very tight, and strightforward on these tables, I at least got some confidence that the games are beatable, but need to protect my money when I dont have the best of it.

Day off

2005-11-04T01:34:00.000Z

Took a break today
Struggled to get a game at the few sites I wanted to play at, there were 8 people on most of the waiting lists!

Ended up playing a few PLO8+ tourneys, won 1 and didnt cash in 2, so broke about even.

I think friday night and over the weekend should be ripe for fishing, and as ive nothing else to do I think I'll play then

Day 3

2005-11-03T03:08:00.000Z

Last session at Paradise poker. 3 tables of .5/1 limit holdem for around 4 hours. Again, tonight went well.
I was up $32 for the session, and cleared $40 in bonus. Total playing profit is $57.50, total profit $157.50.

I've already exceeded my target for week one, but I will continue to play for a total of at least 5 evenings this week, and every week.

Paradise is certainly one of the softer sites to play on, and large average pots help clear the bonus quickly, but I dont think other poker rooms will be as easy to beat. My play has been pretty solid for the last 2 nights, room for improvement tonight was in my value betting, bet a few times where I shouldntve, and checked when I had the best of it, this only happened in less than a handful of occasions, but they all add up!

I've been reading up a lot about limit holdem, tonight I was always bearing in mind what Ive learnt, but played more like how I felt was right. It wasnt like ''I have pocket tens, I 'know' how to play this'', just playing by feel really. Ive not been slowplaying anything, at the Paradise tables people are happy to call along with whatever random draw they have, and I dont remember checkraising once. I like the checkraise play, but think I might have overused it, not that I used it much, at higher limits I like to use it as a resteal on the flop when its heads up sometimes, but it tends to backfire, so with a big hand I generally go for the weak lead hoping it gets raised behind me.

Not sure where i'll be playing tomorrow, think I might have to raise the stakes, but that means 'rock city'. I think its time I started to beat these games, and now seems like a good time!

Day 2

2005-11-02T01:16:00.000Z

Once again playing 3 tables for around 3 hours of .5/1 limit holdem at Paradise, and it went very well!
At the end of the session I was up $37, on top of that I cleared $30 in bonus. That makes my playing profit $25, and total profit $85, I'm happy with that.

I must say the cards did slap me in the face today. It's great when you get lots of rasing hands, because people give you less and less credit for them, that's what it seems anyway. I was a lot more happy today with how I played the majority of my big hands, even the ones I lost.
Still room for improvement though. I folded aces when I was convinced 2 people had me beat on the turn. Preflop and flop was capped 4 way and the flop was KT9, I was sandwiched on the turn and folded to another lead bet from early position, which I was sure was going to be raised behind me, turns out the early position raiser was throwing a party with QT and the solid player behind me also had aces. I actually thought I was up against 2pr and top set. Looking back the pot was very large and probably too big to fold, but I felt that the turn could be capped and I could be drawing extremely slim. I normally pay off hands, even when im pretty sure im beat, Ive learnt that I must pay more attention to pot size. It's hardly my Maxim, but to paraphrase a poker pro: ''calling $1 in a $1,000,000 pot is pointless if you know you're beat''. The bets I need to save are the ones in heads up pot where I get raised or checkraised on the river, if I cant play back them Im probably beat, depending on the player and situation of course. For example, I got checkraised by the same player on the flop and turn when I had AQ (top pair top kicker), I was sure I was beat but made a crying call and took down a very nice size pot from a guy who decided to jam the pot with bottom pair ace kicker and a follower who had a bad queen. So, I guess you never know, especially at these levels.

Day 1

2005-11-01T02:23:00.000Z

I have a soft part time job right now, and id like to keep it that way, but I would also like to save more money per month to go travelling, and perhaps spend a little more on myself along the way.
I was looking through the paper at full time jobs, and decided to run some maths to see just how much more I would be earning for my slave labour. It really didnt seem like too much more, especially with taxes being more, the more you earn. But in the UK poker earnings are tax free!

I've done well for myself in the last year since I started to play poker. To get started I took on a temporary second job and got myself a bankroll together, since then Ive just been playing when I feel like it, but I have made a nice profit, and have had plenty of fun.

The difference between working full time and part time would be around 15 hours, so Im going to spend that time playing poker and see what I can make. Will probably trial this for a few months before deciding what I will do exactly (but I think I already know!). Keeping this blog and an account of my earnings I think will focus me more, and help me to realise just how profitable this could be.

Target set is $100 a week from 15 hours of play.
Ideal target is better poker while making $150 per week with as little from bonus as possible.

I will be posting here daily on my progress in order that you can follow it, and so I can keep a record.

After 3 hours of .5/1 limit holdem on Day 1 im up around $18. Im actually down $12, but managed to earn $30 in bonus in just over 3 hours at Pacific.
I ve been playing pretty bad recently, married a few hands, and payed off a few.

Won a big pot when I jammed a few opponents with the nut flush draw and hit it on the river. On the downside my 2 pair got counterfeited twice in a heads up pot.
In one particular hand I had an up and down straight flush draw on the turn, and 2 people were slowplaying their middle and bottom sets, I wouldve got paid big time! As it turns out, bottom set made quads on the river and I got away cheap.

My game has got to change quickly, I work hard to grind out extra bets and then blow it all on one hand which could easily be a check fold on the flop. More selectively agressive I think I need to be.