Operation: Road to the Executive Game

The Road to Respect

First off, I’d like to say that FTR is the best poker community on the net. The actual site could use some work, but that’s just the web developer in me talkin’. And say what you want about 2+2, pocket fives, and countless others, not many sites have as many players willing to help others improve their game like FTR does. Truth is, I’ve been a long-time lurker of FTR for years. I was just never a big “Internet forum” guy so I never felt the need to register. Ironically now that I’m here, I feel like I don’t post nearly enough. Whether it’s offering help or asking for it, I need to become more active here. I’m not demanding respect, but I hope I will earn it as time goes on.

Abstract

This is my 200th post. It’s not monumental by any means but with any luck it will be a starting point to kick-off my new operation as I build my bankroll, yet again.

The Introduction

So here’s the deal. Over the past few months, my bankroll has experienced some serious déjà vu. Back in June, I withdrew damn near my entire roll of almost $3k (this was the first time I withdrew any funds that dropped my bankroll below $2k). I grinded my way up back to $25NL and made another withdraw, dropping me back down to around $200. Again, I grinded my way up to $25NL and was closing in on a $1k bankroll. Then something happened (beginning in late August) where I lost almost $800 in three weeks. It was brutal. I’m not going to take the sucker’s route and blame it on variance and suckouts either. I simply played like shit and couldn’t control myself from pure and utter spewage. However, I had just started a new (physically demanding) job along with delving into my first college semester in two years (I have a degree in web development & design but going back for my bachelors in education). All things considered, I’m just going to call it a wash and move on.

Back to Full Ring

I’m making a few changes this time around. I’m moving back to full-ring cash games rather than 6-max. The variance is somewhat greater in short-handed games. Plus, $50-100NL full-ring paid for my social life for a year-and-a-half so I’m going back to my bread and butter. I also argue that 6-max players are slightly better than full-ring players. Sure, at 6-max you can play more hands per hour against the fish but at full-ring there’s more of them. Opinions vary so it’s pick your poison, I guess.

Previous Leakage

One of the biggest problems I had when I moved back down to the micro-limits was I gave entirely way too much credit to these players. My main leak was bluffing players that couldn’t be bluffed. A close second was probably not betting enough to stop from getting drawn-out on, regardless if it meant over-betting the pot (many fish will chase their draws regardless of how much you bet, especially flushes).

The Blueprint

I need to get back to ABC poker and adjust my aggression-level accordingly as I move back up the food chain. I went through spells over the past few months where I just got too impatient and it showed in my results. I’m at a point where I can’t play poker for 20-30 hours a week. Poker is at the bottom of the list when it comes to working and paying the bills, having a family and a new house, not to mention going back to school full-time. I’m very lucky if I can get in anything over 4 hours of solid poker per week. The frustration sets in when I don’t see a dramatic jump in profits but I have to come to the realization that as long as I’m winning, it doesn’t matter one iota. Build the bankroll back up to $1k, and I’ll take it from there.

Special Functions

This thread will be to journal my progress as I slowly grind my way back to a $1k roll. Following proper bankroll management is a must. Like I said earlier in this post, I feel like I don’t post nearly enough. Therefore, I’ll be posting my thoughts as I go along. With any luck, my commentaries can help beginners (beginners win) or I get flamed (I win). Either way, someone gets something out of it. I would also like to borrow a page from Robb’s Operation Winning is a Habit to “collect useful links” that I find valuable here on FTR, which will be my first follow-up post here and edited as time goes on.

Also, I have finally went out and purchased PT3. It’s going to take me a while to learn the ins and outs of the software but I’ll be setting it up before my next session. I’m not going to post every session’s results here, because that would get insanely tedious. Along with updating this thread with any articles, useful links, or just random thoughts, I feel I need to make it a point to post HH (good or bad) on a regular basis. This is definitely something I rarely do so I need to get on the f’n ball and get some damn feedback.

Current bankroll is a minuscule $224.05; not nearly enough to get me in the "executive game".

You can catch me on Stars, FT or Cake learning how to be a nit.