From Nothing To....

[baron_greenback]

Okay, I was pretty much ready to give up poker, as I have had to withdraw all my BR to pay for various life expenses. I start a new job on Monday, and with holidays and a new flat coming up, I can't imagine having excess $$$s for poker.

Then I saw VCBet's no deposit promo, and decided to give myself one final poker challenge. How far can I get using only the free cash I've been given?

For those who don't know about it, VCBet offer $10 free, with a $25 bonus, releasable after certain conditions are met ($5 every 300 action points)

I obviously can't play entirely within my BR in the beginning, but I think the best way to avoid instant busto is to start out on the $2.40 sngs, and hopefully catch a few breaks.

I'll update here as often as I can (maybe only 1 update to tell you I'm busto lol)

[baron_greenback]

Okay, first update.

It's not been an easy start. I began playing the $2.40, 6-max turbos, as planned, and also mixed in $2.40, 6-max omaha8. However, it did not go too well, and I was basically just struggling to get back towards my original $10.

I then moved to play the 12 player 'dirty dozen' jackpot games (4 wins in a row = $2000) thinking the standard of play would be a bit fishier, and cashing would therefore be easier. I played 4 of them, came 3rd twice, and OOTM twice. This put me down to $1.40.

With a BR that low I was forced to play a $1.20 10-player turbo. With about 5 players left I had 2 huge suckouts in a row, which allowed me to stumble into 3rd, winning $2. After that I went on a mini-heater, with a 2nd place in a $1.20 6-max, and then 2 wins in $1.20 6-max O8. With my BR boosted from $1 to $8, I took another shot at the dirty dozen, and came 2nd, which has left me up for the 1st time today.

So, starting BR = $10
SNGs played = 17
Current BR = $12.60
Av ROI = 16%
Action Points = 256
Sharkscope form = hot

My main problem has been playing scared. I'm showing all raises too much respect, and it's all to do with playing outside my BR. I'm going to try to focus solely on the $1.20s until I reach $25. As far as I'm aware I get a $5 bonus @300 action points, which will help enormously.

1 update made anyway, which is a small success

[baron_greenback]

2nd Update

BUSTO!!!

I ran bad, got some really horrible beats etc. but then tilted like a moron. I hate myself for some of the stupid moves I made, but hey, it was fun for about 5 seconds!

[baron_greenback]

Okay, I'm resurrecting this operation, as I've signed up with DMH Poker, and received $5 free, with a $10 bonus.

I have faith in my ability, and if I can knuckle down and play proper sng tactics I should be able to build a roll. As before, it'll be the very beginning that will make or break this.

I'm going to be multi-tabling the $1.20s to start with - I think my problem before was single tabling, and so over-thinking things and trying to outplay opponents every single hand.

So far I've played one set of 4 6-max sngs, winning 1, 2nd twice and 1 OOTM - JJ lost to A5 after pre-flop all-in. So I'm up to $8

[baron_greenback]

Just a quick update. Was out at a house party last night, and feeling super rough today. I'm about to go out again to watch Man United beat Blackburn (3-1 is my predicition) so there's not been any time for poker.

Played a few sngs today, and basically broke even. My play started out bad, but finished good. I think I'm getting back into the rhythm of sng play after a long time playing cash hold 'em and omaha. My problem is basically not being aggressive enough, or rather not being aggressive enough at the right time. I tend to overbet marginal hands, and underbet my good hands. This has led to aces being cracked a few times, and people are constantly hitting flushes and straights against me. It's all fixable though, so I'm not too down-heartened.

I'll watch the football, and then try to put in some serious playing hours this evening. I have a BR of $8.10, which is good enough to 6 table. I usually only play sets of 4, so it'll be an experience!

[baron_greenback]

I'm going to be honest - this is harder than I thought it would be. It's my own fault for impatient play, and impatient BR strategy, but I busted out.

Still, I'm not one to give up (can you say addict) so I've started again, at Crazy Poker, where they give a $10 no deposit bonus. Again, it hasn't been easy, but I think I'm beginning to find some rhythm, and to play my own game. I'm trying to tighten my game up, and also to watch out for tilt (a real probem when $1 is so valuable and you bust out with AA vs 58o or something similar)

I also received a CD through the post from Mansion, offering a free $15 no deposit sign-up. Hopefully my BR at Crazy Poker will grow, and I can claim the Mansion money and then use it for a similar operation, only with Sports betting.

[baron_greenback]

So, I've almost reached my first milestone in this operation - my BR is up to $46 on Crazy Poker.

I'm running pretty well, but I'm also playing a million times better than when I originally attempted this a week ago. Patience is the key to these stakes. I'm also working on keeping marginal pots reasonably small. I know it's basic stuff, but tightening up pre-flop, and stopping c-betting/bluffing as much is really helping me. I'm hoping that now I'm nearing being properly rolled for the $2.75s quickly boosting my roll will become easier.

I'm pretty much 2-tabling full ring at the moment, and staying away from turbos, which is helping cut down on variance. Hopefully tomorrow I can go on a bit of a heater, and then maybe add in a 3rd table.

One thing that annoys me is that I lost $10 playing cash 10NL - stupid, but I was unlucky, losing set over set, and 10-10 on a 9 high board lost to an aks runner - runner flush. Still, I can't afford this (and 10NL is the minimum at microgaming) so I doubt I'll be moving to cash any time soon.

[Ash256]

Sup Baron

Remember fm4rums?

[baron_greenback]

Hey, I do remember fm4rums, but don't know who you are/were?

Anyway, reached another milestone today - passed 100 bux! I think I only played 2 games yesterday, and cashed in both, and today I've not played much either, but I've been focused when I have played, which is vital.

I still feel like I have loads of leaks - I'm definitely not maximising my good hands, I'm betting a lot with marginal hands A10, KJ, low PPs etc in the later stages, and I don't really have a plan when I'm called. I was finishing 2nd too often, so played a few $5 heads-up SnGs to sharpen up. The standard of opposition was horrible, but it seemed to work, as I've been more confident in the final 2, and I'm getting more 1st places.

My BR is at $130, which I think (for this operation) makes it time to take a shot at the $11s.

On a life note, I start my new job tomorrow, and I have to start looking at new flats, so I'm going to have to play a ton over the weekend if I want to get anything remotely impressive out of this.

[baron_greenback]

Quick update

I'm still not actually playing that much, but tonight was probably the best I've played/ran in my life. I'm thinking through hands much more, and as a result I'm minimising loses, and also starting to maximise good hands. One thing I did today was play without TV, music etc on, which I think definitely helped me focus, so i think I'll maybe have to try that next time I play.

My BR is up to $282, which is great for 3 days play on Crazy Poker, especially considering the volume (or lack of) that I've put in. It could easily have been a lot more, but I was sucked out on a few times on the bubble, or in 3rd place a few times. I also lost a few $$s playing some Omaha8 SnGs. Both times I was all-in and my opponent hit 2d on the river! Once it gave him a2345 to beat my set and counterfeit my low, the other it gave him a straight flush lol

One beat was horrific. I don't have PT working on my laptop (postsqgre problems or something ) but I flopped a straight, I think I had 5-9 on a 6-7-8 board. I bet, opponent pushed, and I called. He turned over Q6, turn Q, river 6. That was a $10 6-max game when we were heads up and more or less even in chips. Difference between $18 and $42, and at the BR I'm at, that's quite a gap.

Still, overall no complaints, as, like I said, I played well, and baad beats happen. Better to lose to a bad beat than to play badly.

I don't know how much I'll get to play over the weekend because Sunday I'm playing football (soccer) at 10am, then going to watch Celtic vs Rangers (biggest game in Scottish football season) I'd imagine I'll be drinking all day, and beer + poker don't mix! Tomorrow lunch-time is Chelsea vs Man United (English league decider) so chances are it'll be the same thing there. I'm making good progress though, so I'm not too bothered.

[baron_greenback]

Went to watch the Chelsea vs Man U game when I got up this morning, then pretty much hung out with friends all day. Pretty much no time for poker, which isn't really a problem, as this is more of an experiment than anything else. I am thinking, however, that some sort of goal would help motivate me. I'll maybe set some BR targets over the next few days.

If I did that, it would definitely stop me from being an idiot like I was today. Donked off $34 in 0.5/1 cash game. God knows what I was thinking! I'm also really pissed off about a call I made quite early in a deep-stack SnG. I have AKo, guy min-raises to 200, I pop it up to either or 800. He tanks, then pushes saying 'oh well 50-50'. I knew he had Aces, but I still called. I'm such a donk!

Anyway, despite another day of very few games and the 2 above spews, which were basically for $55 I'm up to a $381 BR, so I'm happy enough.

Can't imagine I'll play at all, as I've got loads of drunken plans tomorrow for the biggest game of the Scottish season so far. Rangers have a lot of players missing, and I'm hoping Celtic can take advantage. If not it's goodbye silverware this season!

Oh, I watched some of the NFL draft tonight with a few friends. None of us follow NFL, but it was interesting anyway. One question that came up - what's the deal with a draft pick's salary? They obviously have no control over which team picks them, and have to sign, but how do they agree terms? I saw a thing on the show that said last year's 1st choice earned $29m, whereas 22nd earned $7m salary. Anyone that can help me out with anything relating to this, it would be greatly appreciated!

[baron_greenback]

Celtic won, and I had an afternoon of debauchery - was in the pub for the football at 12.30 and got home at 2.30am - 14 hour session! Was great fun, but I suffered for it 2-fold. I came home and donked away $81 in 0.5/1 - someone should invent some kind of breathalyser that doesn't let you play poker when you're drunk! Also had to work at 9 this morning, so I've been struggling all day.

I'm going to wait a bit before playing today, as I'm really tired, and I'm determined that from now on when I play I'm focused, as I want to start accelerating my progress.

[daven]

bankroll management? you read about it? you understand it?

[bjsaust]

You'll eventually run out of rooms to restart on.

[baron_greenback]

So, I've been unable to play all week, and crazy poker has basically no traffic, so I quit.

I had a BR of $298 at Crazy poker - I withdrew $258 to my bank account, which I will use to buy a new phone (I either left my old one on the bus, or in a cab last Sunday)

I kept $20 in crazy poker, which I donked up to $100, then lost on a 0.25/0.5 O8 table (stupid, but I left it in for that reason)

I put the other $20 into my Poker Stars account, as that seems to have the most players and games, so will be best for me to build a roll if I can only play in bursts. I'll take on board the above comments, and obviously wont be playing any cash O8 this time (I love the lotto nature of the games though!)

I know that stars let you sell satellite tokens, and it can be a good way to build a roll - anyone got any experience of this?

[Benoso]

Sup elbaroni. Glad to see you still have wanton disregard for BR management, it just wouldn't be you otherwise would it?

Still craving the Omaha thrills too? Some things never change. :P

It's been a long while.