Time to take things seriously... (tl:dr)

I started this blog thinking that I'd be updating it regularly, well it has not turned out that way. But guess what I've got the same thoughts now. I think that if I add some structure to the posts I will be more motivated to post. I will be posting some goals to achieve each month and blog my progress in achieving these goals, as well as any observations and strategy that I pick up along the way.

I apologize if this post is too long, I usually have a concise writing style and often don't write enough (as shown by my mediocre exam results). This post will be long for the simple volume that I have to go through.

I started playing poker when I was 16 playing a home game with mates. I had no clue how to play and neither did they. I was so very annoyed when I was the first out, like always I set myself up with high expectations of how I am going to do and am disappointed when I don't succeed first time. But hey, that's part of my life tilt problems and I will sort that out sometime. Me and my mates have continued to play this home game throughout our school years (probably about one a week).

As with most people learning to play poker, if left to their own devices they get strategy all wrong. Limping suited junk is standard and slowplaying weak trips is the only way to play. As I played more I started to fold out a lot more, I would raise with what I thought were strong holdings and would play straight forward after the flop. But I was still losing! I was losing more than before! How could this be? I am playing good cards and my mates were sucking out on me with junk! I started reading poker articles online and was baffled by the content; 'folding KTo to a raise? NO WAI!' I was reading strategy thinking I was getting better, but come the game and I still lost more than I won.

This is where internet poker came in. I started playing for play money on thefreepokerroom.com just because I was bored. I really started to implement the strategy that I got from the internet at the home game and results improved. A couple of weeks later, I deposited on FTP about $20. I was still mistrustful of internet poker but I figured I can't lose much if I only deposit $2o. I ran it up to $80 playing 2nl and tourneys (thought I was a balla). However I when I hit my first downswing I went on monkey tilt and was found playing 50nl (thats how I usually tilt) and screwed that money away.

I started reading FCP (cos negreanu ldo) and from that I found 2+2, and noticed how much thought these winning players put into their hands. While I had read about EV, floating, FE etc. I had never thought about it while playing (my mind was saying I got top pair, raise lol). While I was busto I was reading and improving my game without hardly playing a hand. When I next deposited it was on PS for $80 and I ran this up to $190 11 tabling 2nl. I had learnt to play poker with a plan and that showed in $$$.

After finishing my initial heater I had a long break even stretch with occasional losses in tourneys that really frustrated me, I was again found playing 100nl and while I didn't lose it all this time I lost half a stack which was devastating for my bankroll. During exam time I didn't play a hand of poker (thank God!) and afterwards I wasn't that interested in online poker anymore.

It was during this time however that I started crushing the home game. I was winning so much and was shooting up our little league. I noticed that my opponents were making SO many mistakes and I had learnt how to exploit them. It was a fun and new experience! I had an edge at a table! I was no longer tilting nor limping! Thus I decided to give online poker another shot. I deposited $150 extra on PS and started 8 tabling 10nl and that is basically where I am now.

My bankroll is at $396 currently grinding 10nl full ring.

Now for the goals that I plan to acheive before the end of September:

Cash Games:
- Break out of this short break even stretch I am on.
- DO NOT TILT
- Achieve silverstar hopefully by the end of August. I need 467 VPP by the end of August and that will only be done with a lot of grinding.
- Post hands and situations I struggle with on 2+2 and continue to post advice for other users.
- Stack aggrodonks
- Make good purposeful notes
- Probably most importantly sort out the lack of a HUD that I am currently suffering from.

Tourneys
-Don't play 'em.

Life
- Pass the ski instructor course I am on
- GET LAID!!!


I think I'll end the post there. If anyone's still listening.

Peace out! See you at the tables (I'm the one getting outplayed by the fish).