Decided something needed to change so I moved all the furniture around. Computer is now facing East so hopefully that will make some sort of difference. About 10 feet extra walk to the kitchen and the bathroom now though so will have to be quicker when going for a beer or a piss between hands.

Not been doing much apart from a load of cheap stt's on ladbrokes due to bankroll constraints. Started at 4$ and went up to about 20 but lost when moving up to the 5$ - only takes one bad game to stop the rise of the bankroll. Back down to about $3.50 but did buy in to the late night 4$ rebuy so you never know.

Played a 3$ 45 seater turbo on stars - came third for 21$ then enetered the 3$ horse tourney - think my first cash must have been beginners luck as it's all been downhill since. Haven't played that much limit poker in any form and it's frustrating knowing you have the best hand and not being able to bet people off their draws. Damage was done in the stud when I had three 8's in the first four cards and the other guy hit his flush on the river.

Played the 5$ rebuy too on stars. Did well in the first hour and had just below average chips when I decided to mess with the big stack - embarrassed to say what I did but this blog is about honesty so here goes. I made a small raise from early position with QJ suited - on the basis that I have to start playing a few more hands rather than wait for the biggies all the time. Flop comes Q-10-7 all spades so I bet about 1/4 of my stack - guy who is big table chippie comes over the top and I call thinking he is betting me off the hand or drawing for a flush. Also got to stop getting pushed around. Well he had Q10 and that was it. Could easily still be in the tourney but felt I needed to start being more aggressive.

Just went out of the 4 rebuy too on Laddies - raise with 10 10 - K high flop - I go all in - only caller thinks then calls with a flush draw which hits. Maybe I should move the furniture back. Think i'll open a bottle of wine and lose my last 2$ on Laddies and play an stt on stars.

Well still got a couple of dollars on laddies but came 3rd in a 45 seater 6$ turbo on stars for 40 odd $. Played the 1$ horse tourney and was doing ok untilo we got to Razz the 2nd time round - think i'm justified in saying that 6-5-3-2-1 losing to 6-4-3-2-1 counts as a bad beat in Razz, especially as he hit his 4 on the river. At least i'm getting the hang of it and it's cheap, more importantly i'm enjoying it and not playing on autopilot like I do at hold em sometimes and getting bored.

Probably won't have any time to play tomorrow so back on thursday refreshed and ready to play. Goodnight sweet dreams and good luck everybody.

Things haven't been going great so decided to look for someting cheap and interesting to play and found just the ticket on pokerstars. French Tv station NRJ 12 are making a tv reality poker show and player point sats were running. The show looks a bit full on with 60 people taking part in a preliminary show with 8 men and 8 women being chosen by the public to go to a villa in Vegas for 5 weeks where they play poker and eventually get eliminated by playing weekly tourneys until the winner gets a 200k pokerstars package.

Very little chance of qualifying but worth it for a laugh and a dream and actually got close to the weekly final. Started slowly and dwindled to 700 chips but then took a few chances and was soon right in it. Had AA about 3 times and doubled each time which helped and was 13/29 at one point. Didn't get much else apart from that and with ten minute blinds it was all in or fold poker. Got on to the last 2 tables - last table all qualify - but with blinds 2000/4000 and antes of 400 my stack soon dwindled to 8000. Some huge stacks to my right meant i'd get no free rides and on my BB the button raised of course and it was either all in with my 10 5 suited or nearly all in next time on my SB. I went for it and his A6 held. Think it was the right play but can't be sure. Out in 16th - close to the weekly final but no cigar.

Wish i'd seen this before - sats been running for nearly a month - but will try and have another go at it if I get a chance.

Couple of stt's this afternoon got me the buy ins for a couple of tourneys on ladbrokes - just went out of the 8$ rebuy after taking a chance with AK - came up against Q6 who had raised originally and KQ - Q on flop and I was out. No point re buying though - for one my bankroll won't really satnd up to it and also playing it as a freezeout gives better value - only 80 odd runners so no point chasing my losses.

New promotion on Ladbrokes - tickets for the Carling cup final up for grabs - there's also cash added in this 10$ buy in tourney so worth a go despite the 8 minute blinds making it almost a turbo. Got off to a good start though so who knows. LOL AA just cracked by QQ so down to a low stack now. Battled through to the money but out in 16th when I had less than 1 BB and AK lost to tens - damage was done when I called with 23 off in my BB - 2000 more for to win 11000 - didn't beat AK so that was my chance gone. 26$ though for a 16$ profit.

Horse tourney starting soon on stars too. 164/213 at the moment with 96 paid from 536 runners. Out 147.

Sunday hundred grand on stars was a bit disappointing - did great in the first hour and build up a nice stack but had nothing to play with in the 2nd hours and the blinds going up every 10 mins means you have to play at some point or get eaten up - I had 3750 chips left and blinds were 500/1000 so shoved them in from UTG + 2 with QJ suited - not the best of moves but needed to double - got called by AK and although I hit the flush draw on the flop the 5th heart never came and I was out 3899/20000.

Still in the 5$ 2nd chance on Ladbrokes - well I was - just lost a race with QQ v AK so down to one BB and it's my BB next. A6 suited. Could be worse. J9A flop and I triple up - still right near last place though. And out in 114th. Should call it a day as i'm up early tomorrow but might persuade myself to play something else.

Finished up by playing another horse tourney - think a good tactic for next time might be to pay attention - got a load of chips in with the lowest hand - unfortunately everyone else had moved from Razz to stud - luckily the cards that were showing included a pair of aces and as I mucked no one saw the rest :-)

Out of the ten rebuy on Laddies too - was time for a double before I got too low so shoved them all in from the button with 99 after a guy just before me min raised - he called with A7 and of course he hit.

Went to bed after that but for some reason couldn't sleep and got up an hour later just in tme to waste 14$ on GY satellites. Also entered an 8$ shorthanded on laddies. This left me with about $8:50 in my ladbrokes account so what I possibly shouldn't have done is deposit 40$ more to play the graveyard with (lol). Hope I can cash because thats my last deposit for a while on there otherwise. Won't be easy though as only 47 runners so only 5 paid. Got 4$ to fall back on though - should be easy enough to build up a roll with that. Or maybe not lol.

The 8$ shorthanded only attracted 22 runners - well about 6 runners and 16 bingo players. With 4 places paid I went out in 5th after hitting a set of jacks and bingo boy hit his 3 outer straight on the turn.

Also playing a 5$ on stars but playing like a total muppet so not expecting much there. Still in aafter first hour though but only just. 5/30 after first hour of GY though - will probably make the FT but finish out of the money now it's only 5 paid.

Also in a horse tourney - 1$ - tried to unregister as getting tired but was too late. Out of it early as my first 5 cards gave me a straight in stud and got beat by a full house who'd been calling all the way with 2 pair and hit on the river.

Out of the GY too in 11th. Lost my race with AQ v JJ and that was that. 4$ left to try and make a comeback lol.

Didn't play much yesterday - just a 3$ rebuy on laddies whereI went out 13/82 with ten paid - needed a double as the nlinds were going up quickly and we were down to 2 tables and playing 6 handed - shoved with Q10 or something similar from the SB and my timing was impeccable as the BB had AA. Played 2 5$ stt's and cashed in the ten pays five equal payout and won the other one for 25$.

Went out 18/20 in the forum game when I saw a cheap flop with QJ - two queens came up on the flop but the other guy also had one with a better kicker.

Then went to the pub - bumped into an old friend who works as a 'lady of negotiable affection' and a long night's partying ensued involving jacuzzis and steam rooms at one point!! I can't seem to ever have a normal night out - just as well I stay in mostly these days.

Feeling somewhat peaky after last night's shenanigans so taking it easy. Only played the 3 rebuy on Ladbrokes - tripled up in the first hour with JJ hitting a set then was pleased to see AA in front of me just after the break. UTG had flat called then my raise was called by another guy who had very few chips. The original caller raised so we ended up all in pre flop. Low stack had AQ and the UTG bellend had Q10 suited. Of course he hit his flush and instead of tripling up and getting a good foothold in the tourney I went out about 250/450 odd.

Playing a 3$ HORSE tourney on pokerstars - just felt like a change - never played it before but had a quick read of the rules of each game and some careful play sees me currently sitting 76/125 from 384 runners so must be doing something right. Finished 22nd - only gets me $8.07 but pretty chuffed for a first effort. Took a chance with 23J playing Razz against one other guy in the hand and his hand came out best. Or worst if you want to look at it that way.

Now playing the 5$ 2nd chance on ladbrokes. Not a bad effort - 21/526 for 22$ from 11$ entry lol - not a great profit but still quite pleased - was average stacked with 50 left but got nothing playable - stole the blinds with a pair of fives then was getting really low and my AK all in from UTG ran into JQ suited which flopped a straight - can't really fault his call as he had the chips and odds to make it and I was desperate enough to push with a lot less than AK.

Playing another 3$ HORSE tourney on stars - 504 runners and i'm sitting 32/143 with 72 paid - just donked off a few chips on the limit stud hi lo - better read up on tactics for that. Out in 82nd - messed up the omaha bit the third time round - but unnerved as there's a house on fire in my street and although I phoned the fire brigade there's a lot of screaming going on. It's one of those squats with a lot of eastern European immigrants living in it - hope there's no casualties but not looking good. Completely freaked out now.

Another terrible day's poker - was very tired after getting drunk last night until 7am and having to get up at 3pm for my weekly jobcentre interview - the fact that I have 2 part time jobs doesn't seem to stop them wanting me to get a 'proper' career - that's what you get when you elect a fascist dwarf president I suppose. Quite fancy the girl who I see every week though so worth going just for that :-D - can't really tell her about my other 2 part time 'off the books' jobs - might not go down too well.

Poker is definitely not in danger of becoming a source of income - started the day on Laddies with about 60$ and now have about 16 for tomorrow. Played a few stt's and the 3 rebuy earlier on but got nowhere and decided to give up for the night and watched a few episodes of QI on youtube and coronation st which I have just started watching again thanks to a link I got from the ladbrokes not really very much about poker but a good laugh forum.

My sofa dwelling was interrupted at about 10:30 when my Dad messaged me saying that he was about 200/500 in the 5 rebuy on Mansion and would I like to take over coz 'he's not great at big bets'. Surprised me a bit as he's been playing poker for years - my love of all card games probably stems from the endless sunday afternoon games of 13 card brag he used to play with his mates.

Knew I was playing badly but took over anyway - was my account which I don't use very much so I'd said to him and my brother to have a game when they feel like it - 1700 runners with 200 places paid. Doubled up soon after with QQ v 44 and was looking good to at least cash when I got A10 on the button with 2 bigger stacks to my left. First instinct was to fold and wait to play against the lower stacks but I put in a raise and was re-raised a small amount by the SB. K rag rag flop so when he checked it I went all in on a steal. Didn't take him long to call with his pocket kings. No excuses - I think that's the worst i've played a hand for a long long time.

Stopped for a bit and watched some more QI - the episode I was watching finished just in time for me to enter the 10 rebuy on laddies and the 5 rebuy on stars. Went out just after the break on stars - can't win a hand on there lately - but was doing ok in the laddies tourney with no rebuy or add on - was 16/50 at one point with 20 paid. downfall was when I had about 9000 chips with blinds 600/1200 and some guy went in early for his last 3400 - one caller with a bigger stack and I decided to call from the cut off with AQ - flop comes rag rag K and I hope matey's going to check it down but he bet and I had to fold. He had something like K9 and the all inner had A3. never recovered after that and went out 31st when I took a chance with A7 - very low stacked and the bigger stack's 66 held.

Now I know the play on Mansion was ridiculously bad but i'm not so sure about the call with AQ on Laddies - had I gone all in the guy with K9 would have called anyway - enough value with what he already had in, so maybe I should have folded. Now i'm pretty tight usually but what can I do? Fold AQ and wait for AA? Bit confused. Having said that the tourneys I have gone deep in have involved folding hands like AQ on a regular basis.

Ah well, tomorrow's another day and all that.

2 tourneys on Laddies so far - 5$ 2nd chance - hung in with no cards - best I had in first hour was AJ and 33 - both of which I didn't want to call an all in with so had to fold. Doubled up shortly after the break but my QQ on the button ran into 99 who had raised from mid position and called my all in probably thinking he as up against AK and racing. Hit his 9 and I was out about 160/370 odd.

8 rebuy wasn't much better - card dead again but managed to finish 12/49 - out of the money but needed a bit of luck which didn't come.

Played a 10$ sit and go on stars but an early bluff didn't pay off and I never recovered. Playing the 5$ rebuy - was all in with QQ and came up against AK and AK - all was well until four 3's came on the board and they had the best kickers. Immediately double rebought which is not what I was planning to do but we'll see where it takes me. Also playing the 10 rebuy on Laddies.

Well I'm out of the 10 rebuy - had just doubled up and was looking ok when I made a 3x BB raise from UTG + 1 with AQ suited - flop comes 10-A-7 so I push them all in to be called by A9 and Q9 !!!!! Turn 8 and river J gave them both a straight. One of the sickest beats i've had for ages. Now trying to build up some cash from STT's to get the buy in for the GY.

Out of the 5 rebuy on stars too - can't recall what happened - gonna give stars a miss for the rest of the night. Got into the GY for 8$ though on a turbo sat - hopefully I can do a bit better than last night. Not gonna play any other tourneys so hopefully the sit and go's i'll play alongside the GY can build up a bit of cash for tomorrow in the unlikely event that I don't win the GY.

Bugger - out first hand - call with KJ spades UTG - a few others see the flop - 658 with two spades so I bet to see where we are - 2 callers - K on turn so I continue to bet - another K on the river and things are looking good - I bet about half of what I have left and a known muff puts me all in - he had pocket 66. Don't really mind not winning but was looking forward to playing for a couple of hours. Maybe I should have realised he was ahead but limping from the small blind he could have had 2 pair or K9 or K 10. He did suck me in though as he was just checking and I was putting the chips in for him. Think overall it was greed on my part - can't honestly say I tried to put him on a hand. Comments welcome from anyone who might be reading this even if it's just to tell me that it was shit play.

Full day off today so there'll be plenty of tourneys. Just the one on pokerstars so far - 8$ rebuy which I didn't get anywhere in - built a reasonable stack in the first hour but didn't hit any flops after that and went out when desperate about 900/1500 ish. Been doing well for once on the Ladbrokes sit and go's - built up a roll of about 75$ from yesterday's starting point of 20 odd so using it to play the 8 rebuy and the 3 rebuy.

Out of the 3 rebuy very early - AA lost to KK and I decided to bow out rather than keep rebuying. 8 rebuy was better - 51 runners - quite a recent addition to the Laddies tourney schedule. Doubled up a couple of times in the first hour - seem to be a lot of people addicted to playing A rag and there were only 24 left as we started the 2nd hour. Struggled on to the FT but hung in before inevitably going out - 6th place for $43 - not bad for an 8$ investment and 90 mins play.

Playing the 5$ 5000gtd on stars - also going to play the 3 rebuy on there and the 20 rebuy on Ladbrokes - not going to rebuy or ad on so update later.

20 rebuy on Laddies sucked a bit - was building up a nice stack until QQ got called by Q10 who hit his flush. 5$ freeze on stars was going fine - getting lowish towards the bubble but if AA had held up against 88 I would have been in the cash and well placed to go further. Still in the 3 rebuy with an average stack but I broke my own rul and rebought so it's cost me 18$ so far - 2000 left and i need top 300 to get my cash back.

Well out of that when the SB thought his Q10 was worth calling my re raise with - he was stealing and my A6 didn't hold up. People are so happy to go in behind. Playing the 8 rebuy on Laddies - approaching the end of the first hour - highlight so far being losing most of my chips when my raise with AK was reraised all in with A5 by some other fucking muppet who hit her 5. 8 rebuy ended after hanging in for ages with bugger all - ended up 26/81 which isn't too bad but was never threatening.

Still in the 10 rebuy in stars after 90 mins - currently 489/961 with 225 paid - got very lucky on a 3 way all in when I hit a 3 outer on the river to have top 2 pair. Getting slightly tired and working on getting drunk but the next 2 tourneys will be the 10 rebuy on Laddies and the 5 rebuy on stars starting in about half an hour. Got 60 odd dollar left on Laddies after the buy in for the 10 rebuy so the big question of the night is how do I avoid spending 40$ on the GY?

Well i'm out of the 10 rebuy on stars - raised with A10 from the cutoff and got one caller - Q-10-6 flop - all hearts as is my ace so I push all in - get called by Q6 and I don't improve. Don't get why he called my raise with Q6 in the first place but either way i'm out. Not going to win much in this mood - think i'm liable to make some mistakes.

Playing the 10 and 5 rebuys on Stars and Ladbrokes now - found out how to not pay in to the graveyard - i've entered the 10$ crapshoot on Laddies which means I can't afford the Gy - will probably play a few 3$ waste of time all in or fold sats to it.

Out of the 5 rebuy on stars - was getting low and entered what turned out to be a 4 way all in with 88 - was actually ahead until the river flush - down to just under 100$ on there - which i'd better make a plan to do something about as it's not my money - not that my sponsor would mind me losing but I would really like to make a profit and pay it back.

GY satellites paid off - new format appeared tonight - 5 seater 8$ turbo sat - don't exactly give you the chance to play great poker but you get more of a chance than the all in or folds - played one won one so i'm in the GY for 11$ (played one 3$ sat as well). Only problem is i'm running out of alcohol.

10 rebuy going ok on Laddies - currently 6/43 from 173 runners - just tripled when I was on the button and called the cutoff's raise with JJ - BB felt he had to get involved and I was slightly worried on a QJ9 flop - mid size bet was called - then when the 9 came on the turn I knew my full house was ahead barring a miracle. Hopefully i'll at least cash because i'm now down to 33$ plus winnings - GY entry paid so that could be a source of income too if I stay concentrated.

Out 15th in the 10 rebuy - took ages to get from 30 to 20 and although I wasn't playing to cash I didn't really have any opportunites. Stole the blinds a couple of times and struggled into the cash places about 13/20. Tried to make the most of bad cards but my downfall was raising 12000 from the cutoff with a stack of 27000 when blinds were 1500/3000 - a raise aand a reraise meant that I had to fold my KQ - AA and QQ confirmed that this was a good decision and after that I was fucked. Shoved them in from the SB with 10 6 off when I only had about 14000 left - still think that was ok as the BB was the 2nd shortest stack after me and would not have called unless he had a hand - unfortunately he had A 10 and I went out 15th. 40$ for 10 is an ok return but a far cry from a decent cash.

Just the GY left and i'm currently needing a miracle - just started the 2nd hour and i'm 30/30 - donked off a load off chips when I limped with KJ from the SB - 2 pair on flop and although the BB made it obvious he had something I still called and let him win with his flopped straight. Bad play rather than a bad beat for once. Did make a great comeback from 225 chips to about 1900 but they soon got blinded off to leave me struggling. Just doubled with AQ v A10 - still in trouble though.

Out 22nd after a bad play. Raised from the cut off with QJ - hoping to steal - got called - missed flop - bet all in and got called by A8 who had also missed flop but guessed what I was up to.

So basically i've been playing for 12 hours and gained about 30$ on Laddies and lost about 40 on stars. Did enjoy playing for most of it but would be nice to get a decent cash. Guess i'm just not good enough.

Didn't post after last night's games as I was knackered. a friend of mine has just bought half a delapitated hamlet about 70km outside Limoges and I was helping him move stuff up there. He's got 3 huge old buildings and a decrepit house which a bloke died in 7 years ago and nothing's been touched since. Pretty spooky but he has ambitious plans for it so we'll see what happens. Only played the stars 100k and the 3 rebuy on there - card dead in the 100k and with 10 min blinds and 20000 runners you have to get off to a good start. Nothing much happened cardwise and I struggled to about 10568th or someting like that. Was doing ok in the 3 rebuy until I couldn't fold AK suited preflop despite an inkling I was behind and sure enough I ran into AA.

started playing late tonight as finihed work at 10:30pm - couple of sit and go's on Laddies which got the the buy in to play the 10 rebuy as a freezout - currently 15/21 with 20 paid from 165 runners so will update as and when shit happens.

Shit happened in the 5 rebuy on stars - the only tourney I played there tonight - one rebuy and no add on saw me comfortably into the second hour - hung in without
much and doubled with A9 spades twice when desperate and first to act in the cutoff.

there were 2614 entries in this with 504 paid and we were very close to the bubble and I had about 4 BB's left when I found AQ suited in the SB - one call from mid position plus a call from the button so I limped in to see a 2A2 flop. My all in is called by the original caller who shows AJ. The J on the turn put me out in 505th - one place off the money. Still there's no point folding - got to play your hands. 35$ would have been handy though for a ten $ investment.

Just went out 19th in the laddies 10 rebuy - was safely in the money and had AK suited on the button - the guy 2 places before me had raised to steal - he'd been doing it all game - so I was pleased to see him call my all in with K6 - until the board gave him a straight. Some players I would respect a raise from but he had already knocked out QQ by calling with A7 from a very similar position. Obviously can't fold when he bluffs to steal. The 35$ will come in handy on Ladbrokes but feels like i'm fighting a losing battle.

Just as well I banked some of my winnings last night or I probably would have played everything in sight on Ladbrokes tonight. As it was I left myself 46$ to play with (would have been more if Ipswich had managed to win away at Blackpool as I had 35$ on them at 7/4 to get a first away win of the season - blind faith in your own footaball team doesn't pay off usually as a sports betting tactic and today was no exception). Played a few stt's which i'm still shit at and 2 tourneys - build up a great stack in the 5$ 2nd chance in the first hour but was card dead for the second hour and didn't recover - came someting like 98/450 with 50 paid. Also played the 10 rebuy but had no playable hands apart from an AA very early with no takers to a smallish raise so bowed out of that just before the end of the rebuy period. Only 20$ left on their now so i'll have to be sensible with it.

A friend of mine is sponsoring me on pokerstars so I got 150$ deposited which I really have to try and do something with - got the feeling that if i'm on top of my game I will get a decent 4 figure finish before the year is out. Wasn't to be tonight though as I only played the 5$ rebuy (no rebuys or add ons) and somehow struggled through to the 4th hour despite not really having much to play with - pocket tens held up when I was desperate and I thought I was getting back into it after doubling with 99 v 88 when I got AA in early position - 3 x BB raise and the big stack raised it with his KK - no K on the board but 4 diamonds gave him his flush and that was it - out in 427/2955 for $39.55 which is a winning start for the new bankroll.

Well 3 and a half hours into the 4$ hi stack and I go out 38/368 for a massive return of $6.62. Went out just after the bubble when I defended my BB with A4 to the bullying hi stack who turned over 56 off and hit. :-(
Wasted 15$ on the forum game and went out about 18/23 after nearly 2 hours - thefact that so few had gone out shows what a good format and standard of play there is. I had called with 10J suited and hit top pair on the flop - unfortunately ran into a well played set of ducks which I might have got a way from were it not for me hitting 2 pair on the turn.

Bankroll down to peanuts - couldn't even afford the 10 rebuy - waiting for the 4$ hi stack to finish so i can get my $6.62 lol. Still in the 5$ 2nd chance though so hopefully can cash there - 60 paid and i'm currently 59/102 from 552 runners.

finished 4th for about 285$ - welcome addition to the bankroll - at least I've got something to play with now. Had about 4BB's left when shorthanded - 4 players left - so only min raised from the button with QQ - needed action - A on the flop - and when the BB min bet after the flop i had to hope he didn't have it and unforunately he did.

A rare moment of lucidity saw me withdraw 185$. Not sure why, not sure how - must admit i'm still choked up after watching the demise of Vera Duckworth - somebody
who's been with me since the age of seven.

Well it isn't really working - that 150 odd dollar that I deposited has turned into the magnificent sum of 46$. Can't even make money on sit and go tournaments. Creditable performance in the 10$ rebuy though which I again played as a freezeout - seems to me to be a reasonable tactic as I used to automatically rebuy early on and play with a bigger stack and I would always take the add on. Since i've been playing them without rebuying it doesn't seem to have changed much - either your hands hold up and you get a stack or you don't - just have to be prepared to bow out early if the first chance you take doesn't come off. Also the blind structures are such that you don't have to go crazy to build a stack. Either way I went out in 24th with 20 paid when I found AK suited in mid position with 17k left and blinds 1000/2000. 2 limpers before me so I made a stand and pushed all in only to play right into the hands of UTG who had called with a pair of ones. Nearly 4 hours play for sweet fuck all. Haven't had a decent cash for ages - must be something wrong with my game - can't keep putting it down to variance - but can't quite pinpoint what it is. Gonna be too tired tomorrow to play much but will probably end up losing the rest.

Hardly had time to play lately with extra work being foisted upon me left right and centre. All i've had time to do is play enough stt's to lose everything in my ladbrokes account where I am now down to zero. Stars isn't much better - got about 8$ left. Not sure whether to deposit or not as i'm feeling quite bored with poker and if i'm not on top of my game it seems like a waste of time. Might stick 100$ in Laddies later. Playing a bit on Mansion but doesn't feel like home though. Wasn't expecting to be this far down so early in the year.

Ok - 146$ deposited on Ladbrokes - hopefully this can be the start of something and also that the conspiracy theories are proved right - ie you win when you deposit.

Well it sort of worked - 13/204 in the 10$ rebuy without rebuying or adding on for a return of 49$. Still doesn't really justify the deposit though. Went out when I found 77 in the SB and the BB's AQ hit. That more or less paid for the GY entry - just gone out 22/65 when my short stacked AQ ran into KK.

Can't say i'm playing well though - not even really interested.

Haven't had much chance to play lately but played a few tourneys on stars last night - no cashes - nearest I got was in the 5 rebuy where we were approaching the bubble and I had tens in the SB - cutoff makes standard stealing raise so I put him all in - he might just have had the odds to call but it was a pretty bad call really with K2 off - K on the board and game over.

Off work today but slept 14 hours straight - been working nights and needed to catch up - woke up just in time for the 3 rebuy on Laddies which I played as a freezout as my roll was down to 15$ - 430 runners - 40 paid and I went out 48th. Q9 in the BB - blinds 2000/4000 and had I folded i'd have been left with 7K - SB raises me - he'd been systematically raising the blinds so I went all in and ran into his A9. REally should have folded - 11$ left on laddies and can't deposit till the end of the month so not looking good.

Cashed in the 5$ freezout on stars but went out shortly afterwards and was realtively short stacked but lost the race with AJ v 66. At least i'm focused and playing well apart from that bad call just now on laddies - gonna play a few stars tourneys tonight and see what happens.

Well bugger all is the answer to that - played about 5 or 6 tourneys and only managed to cash in the 10 freezout - 20$ for 3 hours.

AA lost to 93 off in the 20 rebuy - few other bad beats but my brain's blocked them out - wasn't exactly playing brilliant but didn't really make any mistakes.

So now very low on stars and laddies - will play a few stt's over the weekend - won't have time for any mtt's so we'll see if I can build up a bit of cash - otherwise it's back to depositing.

Got a whole day off work so woke up late with a hangover and lay around watching Luton v Liverpool in the FA cup instead of immediately playing poker. I grew up only 10 miles from Luton and although i'm an Ipswich fan (we got dumped out yesterday by the footballing equivalent of a bad beat from the referee who inexplicably sent a player off) the first game I ever went to was Luton - Coventry on boxing day 1985 or 1986 so I always follow their results. Great game and Luton deserved more than a draw.

played a couple of stt's - no luck on Laddies - down to a miserable 50$ roll there now - but won one on stars for 45$.

Was looking forward to the sunday hundred grand but went out after about 50 minutes - had KK in the BB and called a 4xBB raise - flop JK9 with 2 clubs. Lovely jubbly. He has position so I check and call a big bet pretending to be fishing for the flush. 2 on the turn and this time he doesn't bet. River brings a ten and he's hit his straight with AQ and it's goodnight manic. I know I was sort of slow playing it trying to be greedy and get everything out of him - could have won the pot by raising his bet after the flop or by betting on the turn but to be honest I think i'd do the same every time.

Played the Laddies 10 rebuy as a freezout but went out about 70/200 - getting very low on there now and the stt's are beckoning again. Came 32/352 of Mansion in a 10 freeze for 26$ as well.

Fuck me i'm 2/555 in a 50$ freeze on stars - shouldn't have played it but was annoyed at going out of the 100k so early. had AA about 4 times and getting very lucky and hitting everything. Just made a disciplined fold with AK though - don't want to risk half my stack when i'm so far ahead - turned out I would have lost. Just won a race with AK v QQ - K on river - if i'd lost i'd have been left with 10000 chips - blinds 400/800 so wouldn't have been a disaster. Can't see how I could fold though - unless I just fold everything and get into the money. Keeps me 10/239 now - 180 paid. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM - up to 5/117 calling a 3 way all in with QQ - would still have had about 30 BB's if I lost so was worth the risk. Came up against tens and sixes and it held.

KK in the cut off - I have 96k with blinds at 1000/2000 so raise to 10000 - button goes all in - the only guy at the table with more chips - he shows QQ and a Q on the flop and just to rub it in there's one on the turn.

SIck sick game sometimes - as if we didn't already know.

Don't know why I fucking bother sometimes. Couple of minor quick blinds mtt's and thye 5 rebuy on stars with nothing to report but the main event of the evening was the 10 rebuy on Laddies with 290 odd runners. Didn't rebuy or add on and with 100 left had built up a huge stack and was chippie - hands held up and AK hit its flop 3 times. Card dead for an hour but was still about 18/57 when I bluffed a lower stack after missing my flop with AQ and he thought for ages before making a good call with JJ. Ok no problem - got to try these things - still got enough chips to wait for a hand which duly came when I found KK in mid position. Now a guy called A_B_C went all in from UTG with 11000 chips when blinds were 600/1200. I think I mentioned him in a bad beat post the other night.

So what hand do you go all in with from UTG with 10 BB's left? I can't think of one. With a big PP it's a standard raise hoping to get re raised and get them all in or to all in after the flop unless any really obvious dangers.

AK? maybe - but still better off raising. It's just ridculous. I'm willing to have my mind changed but just now I can't see what hand would justify that. Anyway another guy called my all in and it ended up with my KK v JJ v dickhead's QJ off. 2 queens on the flop and i'm now very low. To make it worse I pushed with 66 (4000 chips left after that debacle) and the same guy hits his A with A5.

I would put it down to a Saturday night part timer but the scary thing is that this guy is new to Laddies and i've noticed he's been winning a few tournaments. Seriously tempted to go and rail him and get a chat ban.

Anyway that ignonimous exit coincided with the start of the graveyard which is out of my bankroll range but of course I'm playing it anyway. In the time it's taken to type this i've moved up to 16/83 from 100 starters with a set of sixes and a JJ which won some chips on a low flop so time to sit in, get drunk and go deep. Lucky I'm not the type to tilt but really hope I run into him later on.

Had built up a decent stack in the GY and was about 19/47 just after the first break when i got QQ UTG - flat called to see who I was up against and got a 4xBB raise followed by an all in by a guy with about 1000 chips ( I have 3800 and the initial raiser had 400) Decided to go for it as although I don't like 3 way all ins I only had to beat the bigger stack to do ok - turned out I was up against AK and 95. A on turn leaves me very low stacked but still got 8 BB's and the blinds are 15 mins. Maybe should have waited for a better spot but could also see it as getting the race I wanted and losing it.

Just missed an opportunity there - had 34 off in the SB with 950 chips left - 46/47 and blinds 150. With 6 callers I would have been putting 75 chips into a 900 pot and hoping for a miracle flop. I had ticked autofold and was gutted to see the A25 flop. Lack of concentration accounts for that - could have been right back in it.

LMao just got moved table after BB to UTG - then got AA and doubled. Wouldn't say i'm back in the hunt but doubled up to still be in last place. Right I refuse to go out of this. Hmmm. Well I did go out - I have 780 chips and blinds are 150/300 - from the SB my K6 off is a hand I will be pushing with every time with that stack and all folding to me. Shame it ran into A9 which hit 2 Aces on board.

Pretty bad evening - played ok but nothing to show for it apart from a decreasing bankroll. Ah, well, tomorrow's another turnip and all that so i'm off to wreak whiskey inspired havoc in the newly discovered QI forum.

Just the 4 tourneys tonight - managed to resist playing the GY and too many other games. 5$ 2nd chance on laddies - came about 120/500 without ever really being in contention - 5 rebuy on stars - can't remember much but think I got into a race somewhere towards the end of the 2nd hour and lost and never recovered. 1200/2700 ish.

Muffs leaderboard on Ladbrokes came 3rd out of 20 - seem to do well in this game for some reason - probably the big stacks and the fact that you get the chance to recover if a bluff goes wrong etc. Did get lucky this week though - raised with KQ suited when lowish stacked and short handed awaiting FT - had to call the extra ten per cent or so and beat AK with Q on flop. Nice to get the compliments from others as I'm ahead in the leaderboard but doesn't really mean that much in terms of getting a decent cash in a tourney which is the ultimate goal. Good game with a great bunch of people - shame i can't make it next week.

Still playing the 10$ rebuy - just starting 4th hour and i'm 21/38 from 291 runners - didn't rebuy or add on as the bankroll won't allow it and anyway I was doing ok.

30 places paid and to be honest the 44$ for 30th would be a significant boost but I won't be playing to creep into the money - i'll be using the old school motto of 'fuck the bubble'.

Been relatively card dead since the break (20 mins ago)- not calling big raises with the likes of KQ though - 26/33 at the moment and down to 9 BBs. Might be one of those tourneys where I really have to sit tight and pick a spot even if it means getting very low.

Just got into a situation I really hate - A10 in the BB - SB puts in min raise - although i'm not playing for the bubble there are only 2 more out before we're paid. If I put him all in he might fold - or he might muff me - he might even be ahead. As it was I called and missed the flop - he bets out - I have to fold. Read somewhere recently that BB is the biggest losing position and I can see why with situations like that.

Into the cash places now so can really go for it. For fuck's sake. I am SB with AQ - UTG calls - folds to me - short stacked with 4 BB's - he is obviously going to call so i'm hoping for a race or even better A rag suited - he has 22 and I missed the board. Fair enough I suppose but would have been nice to get further. Still it will me nice to get some sleep before work tomorrow - got to miss my favourite day of the football season with the 3rd round of the FA cup on but i'll be back in time for the 10 rebuy again and a couple of hours reading up on the footy news. Hopefully i'll come home to the news that the might Ipswich Town have beaten premiership Pompey.

Back from work at 9am - very tired as although I'm allowed to sleep at work i never get more than a couple of hours. This genereally results in me getting home tired, opening a beer, and then seeing what tournaments i shouldn't enter.

Today this was a 3$ mtt on stars - currently 120/239 from 888 runners and the breakfast club in ladbrokes - a ridiculous decision to enter a 40$ buy in tourney when my bankroll was only 140 to start with - guess that's where greed comes in - I sometimes can't get motivated to play when there's no decent prize to be won.

Started badly - JJ 2nd hand so I called from mid position to a raise from UTG - rag flop so I called his small bets - he'd hit his set of twos on the flop - and to be honest he could have had more from me - found out later he was a self confessed donk with too much money playing on a mate's account. Got a few back when AK called by an extremely short stack with K6 then got involved in a pot against another guy who was pretty loose and calling anything. I missed my flop and unfortunately he called a biggish bet intended for him to fold - I then put him all in when I had nothing and that bet was big enough to push him off nothing - pretty lucky as he'd have called with not much. So currently 27/43 from 65 runners with first break approaching.

20/41 going into 2nd hour of BC - GL me.

Just had a bit of fun on stars - getting lowish (12 BB's) so raised from MP with KQ - when the SB went all in I knew I was behind but though fuck it - and lost to AQ leaving me with 4 bb's - 87 suited next hand was enough to get it all in and with 2 spades and an up and down straight draw on the J69 the other 2 guys went all in with AJ and I hit my spade on the turn. Out soon after though when 77 ran into 99

Just doubled in the BC - AK suited in the BB so called a 4 x BB raise from MP - tenA3 rainbow flop so i bet the pot - matey goes all in so I call hoping he hasn't got A10 - his AQ wasn't good enough so i'm now 4/36.

Cut off just raised - he had just under half my stack so thought i'd test him with my AK - the blinds were very low so no danger there - his 44 was looking good until the river K - now 2/33 but a long way to go as blinds still low.

Card dead but hanging around with the odd raise and steal etc - some people on my table will call anything so will have to be careful. 11/17 at 2nd break though so all is not lost. Will probably bubble. Very tired so will have to focus on making the right decisions.

fuck it - out 14th - 7 BB's left and KQ suited in BB - SB makes min raise so i push all in - he calls with A8. Maybe should have flat called as I might have been able to bluff bet the J92 flop. Ah well time for a kip and we'l see what happens later.

Not much going right - haven't cashed in a stars tourney for ages - negative variance starting to catch up. Plus some pretty mad beats - runner runner F/H beating my flopped nut flush - wasn't even slow playing it. Mansion bankroll going down slowly - can't be bothered to play there really as i'm too comfortable with stars and Ladbrokes.

6/110 in the afternoon 3 rebuy on Laddies yesterday - kept me ahead for the day - table kept freezing on ft but probably helped as I expected to have to make a move and probably go out 8th but logged back in and found i'd placed 6th.

Played a few low buy in mtt's this morning - going to have to get used to those with new work patterns - finished ever so slighlty up after cashing 3rd in a 24 runner 10$ freezout. Not much else apart from some stt's and turbo stt's - hopefully little by little i can build up a bit of cash.

well fuck. played shit all day and didn't lose much. finally played well and heading to the cash in laddies ten rebuy when AK in BB loses to AJ cutoff bigger stack wanker.
About a minute after in the graveyard my pre flop raise with AK is called by 53 and the the 467 check check flop then the A on turn did for me. fuck off.

Well 2007 was my first year of poker - i'm not going to be able to give an exact account of it but by my reckoning i'm pretty much even - probably about 100$ up over all but going to call it zero as for the amount of mtt's i've played it's a very small percentage.

So starting with a clean slate for 2008 my poker balances are as follows

Ladbrokes: 220$
Pokerstars: 216$
Mansion: 457$