The Worst Final Table Ever

No, not because I sucked out, or suffered a bad beat, but simply because the software prevented a number of players from actually playing. For the entire FT there were 4 permanent sit outs and, later on another one.

I came to the FT in good shape (makes a change) but only after I'd inflicted a bad beat of my own on JadedJ. His KK looked in good shape against my A10s but a 10 on the flop and a second one on the river doubled me up.

ANyway the FT was a major anti-climax due to the lack of players. Down the the final 3 (one sit out) Gaf and I went heads up, exchanging chips until we both hit a hand. Unfortunately for me my 77 was just worse than his 88, leaving Gaf with about 90% of the chips in play.

I then had a decision to make. Did I fold everything until the sit out went out, or, play my hands in an effort to get back in? The decision initially was easy when the dealer gave me crap cards but then I was dealt my bogey hand A9. I went for it, Gaf had little option to call as it was very few extra chips for him, and up against his 53 (I think) he hit a 3 on the flop and another on the river. I know exactly how JadedJ felt earlier.

The next hand Gaf wins the tournament against the sit out and soon after I realise that, had I finished second, I would have moved up 2 more places in the overall League table!!!

Despite that there is a very bitter taste about the software letting down what could have been an excellent FT.

More Live Action

Friday saw another home game and my best result yet. In about 6 or 7 home games I've only ever finished with less cash than I started once, but this time I finished first in 2 out of the 3 games. In the other game my pockets queens got busted by KQd when he hit a flush on the flop.

Last year saw an overall loss on my live games (negative at casino's and positive at home games) however this year is off to a good start with both showing a positive result to date. Admittedly the sample size is very small so far.

Other than that I'm only playing in the Monday night league and 5th place and 8th place finishes in the last 2 weeks have helped me move up the league to 11th. The final game is tomorrow but in order to move into the top 10 (where the bonus money starts) I need to improve on my current scores. I estimate this will take a top 15 finish and probably a final table finish in order to break into the bonus money - I have a feeling I might end up on the bubble (again)

New Year - But it's March Already

I've been away. Between November and early March I hardly played poker at all.

There are a number of reasons for this but predominantly I had fallen out of love with poker and had other things occupying my spare time. However I'm now back in love and am making a few changes.

Previously I'd be perfectly happy spending an evening on a freeroll battling past hundreds of people in an effort to win quite small amounts of money - and this was my problem. Eventually these people tire you out and you get frustrated playing against them.

So the new poker playing career begins with the fact that I will rarely play in these types of freerolls. So far I've only ventured to the Punters Lounge League matches where the fields are about 50 players but the level of play is top quality. I value a top 10 finish in these as you have to play good poker to get close to it.

I'd also like to venture into the realms of live casino poker more. Last year I played live twice, once in a rebuy tournament which I didn't enjoy as it was my first experience of rebuys and live play and thus it was all too daunting and new to appreciate. My second game was a live freeze out. I bubbled in 11th place but enjoyed it far more.

Already this month I've played a further live freeze out and finished a creditable 6th out of 48 runners.

My final aim is to move away from freerolls and play MTT's with Buy Ins. I probably won't start with very high buy in's until I'm comfortable playing at these different levels.

Last year I finished with nearly $1000 profit from playing. These records started in May and I hardly played in the last 2 months of the year so I'm very happy with that profit over basically a 6 month period.