King Curtis' Poker Blog

April Showers?

2011-04-05T06:31:00.000-07:00

Let's say, showers of money? Yes, April so far is a much better month than March. Then again it's only 5 days into the month. I ended up cashing in 4 out of 5 of my tournaments last night with one final table. First was around 4k but my AK couldn't survive 10 10 even with me hitting my Ace on the flop. Still a good night and start.

I am still on a stake with the "2nd Corporation" and I feel a lot better and focused this month. My attitude has completely changed over the last week or so and I owe that to a few pieces of literature I have been reading. I am now very motivated financially and morally. Let's just say I say yes to doing things or helping people more than I used to. It's a great feeling, I must say.

Anyways, looking forward to switching to night shift at my real job and seeing how it effects my poker schedule. I will be almost on the same time zone as back home so it should help.

In other good news, I finally payed off my car today! 12k payed off in a little over 14 months. Not baller status but hey I'm only 23 years old and growing up my parents didn't own 2 cars that were worth that much. Good stuff.

March

2011-02-28T22:35:00.000-08:00

Poker in the desert. Not really where I wanna be, but poker so far has been good, especially since my volume in tournaments has dropped dramatically. Looking to play a couple good Sunday tournaments with big guarantees. Only problem is it's about 2am here, and that's just the starting time.
Had a nice shot the other night at some good money. First was around 4600$ with a 22$ buy-in in the 20k Gtd. on Stars. Got to the final table short stacked and woke up with JJ in the big blind. Shove to an early position raiser and was then called and up against 99. 9 on the river and I'm out in 9th for a cool 400$. Not what I am looking for, but it's a good confidence booster.

As of late I made a semi deep run in 2 tournaments last night. Both ending in blind battles which ended in racing. Not to mention I was running horribly that night and have no Idea how I made the money. 4 out of 5 Aces just got destroyed by 2 or 3 outters and I couldn't win a race. Still cashed in two so happy.

Some good news though! With my free time(not a lot) I am writing an eBook, which most likely won't be done until around May or June but I am getting excited about it. I am also building a website for it to be available to purchase. I'm trying to go really in-depth with this book so that it is worth what the consumer pays for. Should be around 10-15$, but that's all dependent. I'll let everyone know more on that later and provide a link to it here as well when the sites up. I am also looking to provide coaching on this site, specifically rush coaching but will offer regular tournament coaching as well. I will be looking to bring some other coaches onto the team at the site as well, so let me know if you are interested.

That's it from me! Here's to a good March! Good luck everyone!

Just a few things...

2010-09-25T02:45:00.000-07:00

So this month so far has been crazy, yet very good for me. Not only am I working 12 hour shifts from 5pm to 5am the last week and a half, but I am also coaching a 7-8 year old soccer team and playing poker, all while trying to be a dad and a husband....whew.

I am really trying to focus on ending this month on a good note as far as poker goes. My confidence is at an all time high and I want to snowball on that to keep moving up in stakes or at least to keep killing the 135 mans and the rush rebuys.

One thing that really sucks, is that I will be leaving sometime in the winter for 6 months, and don't know if I will be able to play when I leave. So not only ma I trying to have a good year due to me possibly missing 6 months of poker, but I will be missing 6 MONTHS OF POKER PEOPLE!!!! This is serious. LOL.

As far as goals for the next 4 months, well, I think I am going to try for once not to make any goals. To play and let things happen without expectations or lost hope. Just to see how it works out for me, and if it is good then I will continue to use this to better my game.

On a good note I have off this weekend so lots of volume and hopefully a big guarantee tourney!

Blog is back!

2010-09-24T02:33:00.001-07:00

Finally I am back and more excited than ever about poker! Especially RUSH poker! In the last 4 months combined I've pulled in a cool 22,000$ from rush tournaments on Full Tilt Poker.

I have a very unique and descriptive strategy in the making and plan on doing lots of other things as well. My new You tube page is in the making as well, so look out for that! I'm looking to have video blogs, strategy videos, and sweat sessions on this channel and hope it becomes a useful tool for others.

Update on all the new cool stuff coming soon......

2009-06-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

As for the post below, I was talking about the Poker issues and the government, not the Air Force :). At the time I couldn't deposit and was upset. Anyways on to what's going on lately in the life of me....

Currently playing 25nl and killing it. 9/100BB not bad but I am running really well and am prepared for the almighty downswing IF it comes soon. I have changed since reading a recent book that I have about having certain goals. Firstly, I would usually say something like " I want to be at 50nl by the end of July, which technically I am about 1 BI away from being able to play 50nl with 20BIs, BUT I am not making any goals like that. I understand now thta goals like that make you play more or reach out more/chase winnings if you are down so from now on I am going to be having goals like this:

1. Read more poker books- I have both of the Harrington on Cash Books which will take some time.

2. Post more in the HA section of Cards Chat- At least post a hand for every 2-3 sessions I have.

3. Look over HHs, and database stats- look at my actual raw stats and try to find anything that can be improved or taken away.

4. Sweat sessions- self explanatory

I think that by not having set goals I can make correct decisions and not always be results orientated. Wish me Luck!

Government

2009-06-07T22:02:00.001-07:00

The US government can fuck off.

That is all.

Fresh Start

2009-05-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

This month feels like a fresh start, which is an awesome coincidence seeing that it is May and the beginning of spring. I am still being staked by WVHillbilly(hope you don;t mind me saying :) )
Anyways my confidence is super high after winning an mtt last night. It was a 5$ KO, which KOs are pretty cool, something different. It was one hell of a roller coaster though. I was 4/18 with like 80k chips and a guy raises, I re-raise and he tanks gives the whole table a speech and says good bye to his new friends he made I guess. Long story short my QQ lost JJ(2 OUTTER!!!!!). I was down to like 30k and came back to being in 1st at the final table. So yeah crazy.

Ughh

2009-04-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

Shitty day for me today. Not running well, not playing well, eventually going on tilt...Poker, so fun. I think i cashed in one mtt, the 8$ rebuy...basically a min cash and that is about it. Other than running bad I spewed off in the latest 3$ rebuy I wa sin and eventually called a loose all innner with 55 but also 4 others called and 88 beat my set of fives with their set of 8's. Didn't go crazy a spew a lot though. Stopped early so I guess that's a plus.

Going to take a break since I've been putting in so much volume tourney wise and it should help a lot. Always has....Anyways gl to everyone else, I'm just gonna study and take a day or two break...

LOL FLIPAMENTS

2009-04-09T22:59:00.000-07:00

Well it came down to another coin flip late tonight in the 3$ rebuy on Poker Stars. I played solid poker the whole tourney and only got lucky once near the end(you have to at least once in these huge fields). I had about 360k at one point but lost some down to about 200k when the hand finally went down.....

Stacks:
MP2 with 345397
MP3 with 423002
CO with 938978
BTN with 483889
SB with 416319
BB with 199531
UTG with 571863
UTG+1 with 354608
MP1 with 939912

Poker Forum

Blinds: 8500/17000
Site: Pokerstars
Dealt to BB:9♦ 9♠
Sklansky group 3
Preflop:
3 players fold.
MP2 raises 21795 to 38795
MP3 raises 97205 to 136000
3 players fold.
Hero raises 61406 to 197406 [ all-in ]
1 players fold.
MP3 calls [61406]
Total folds this street: 7
Potsize: 442107
Flop:
A♦ 6♦ 4♣
Potsize: 442107
Turn:
4♥
Potsize: 442107
River:
2♠
Results:
Hero shows two pair, Nines and Fours:
9♦ 9♠
MP3 shows two pair, Aces and Fours:
J♣ A♣
MP3 collected 461232 from pot

I think my play here is standard. My reads on this guy were basically an idiot lol, but he actually showed up with a decent hand. So I lose the flip and life goes on. The thing is down the road(tomorrow lol) I'll be in that same situation, like always in mTTs and I'll win that race and go on to win it ;)

81/4680 is an awesome field finish imo, and I profited around 70$ so like 9$/hr :)

CLICK TO SEE LARGER VIEW

Running Hot

2009-04-08T19:09:00.001-07:00

Title explains it all. Not like I am hitting big cashes but running deep in huge fields is not rare lately.
Today so far I played 3 180 man sngs. 2, $4.40 and 1, $11.

4.40$: 6/180= 36$

4.40$: 2/180= 144$

11$: 12/180= 21.60$

Total: 201.20$

So i am basically owning these 180 mans and want to play as many 11$s as I am playing the 4.40$s. Start making more money....

So other than this I am bored again and am going to make a really hard challenge for myself and try to get a roll starting from nothing on FT. Should be fun, and the CC freeroll with low fields and 50$ for first should help a lot...if I remember to play lol. So I'll leave updates on the side and make a new thing for it...should be fun.

Perty Good Day

2009-03-30T19:42:00.000-07:00

Yup awesome day today, including 2 Final Tables and a 36th place finish out of 5000 people mtt(6 hours for 45$ sigh). But I am happy. I won a 4.40$ 180 man sng for 216$ and got 9th in another. Feeling really good about my mtt game right now. Amazingly I really have changed it from my semi lag/tag(believe it or not) to a straight LAG early to TAG in the middle, to LAG again at the end, I know it's a lot to digest but it works!
Anyways, I'm too lazy to post screen shots so hopefully you beleive me, if not Shark Scope or OPR me fool.

Peace out

Races

2009-03-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

So lately I've taken a break from cash games and have been strictly playing multi-table tournaments, and with any tourney you almost always have a race situation. Now I am not going into detail but you should all know that a "race" in poker is an all-in situation where each player has close to a 50% chance to win the hand.
Now before my recent stretch of playing mtts, i really didn't get myself into these situations that much. But now, early in these mtts i try to get in them as much as possible in order to build a nice stack, and it's been effective, so far.
So the point of this post is to let you know that racing is a huge factor early on, soooooo try it, do it, get yourself in that situation and double up early, then play tight and pick your spots!

Anxiety and Poker

2009-03-25T20:20:00.001-07:00

It's weird how some things in life carry over to the poker world when playing. Outside of poker I have a somewhat anxious personality when it comes to certain things. For instance if I am waiting for something like a package or someone to come over, I get extremely anxious(anxiety) and I get certain symptoms, like light headiness, nervousness, increased heart rate, ect.

Anyways, while playing poker this evening I was thinking that maybe that is a leak in my game. I obviously have controlled this before or I wouldn't have gone as deep as I have in mtts, but I really think sometimes I get too anxious when blinds get high and I make stupid mistakes. Mistakes are how others win and what I need to eliminate. I can remember deep in the 11$ rebuy when I won it for 13k, I kept telling myself, be patient, keep waiting for a good and, don't worry. When I talked myself through this and kept repeating it, it helped. I even told others on an instant messenger to tell me or I repeated it to them. It seriously helped, and I forgot about this small little nugget.

So from now on I am going to do this, see how much it changes my game and how much more I win.

Stake KC!

2009-03-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

This may seem kind of weird, me asking for a stake, but I have been staked many times before, with my stakers getting back as high as 1.5k back from me!
I am looking to get staked for a multiple amount of tournaments(you decide the BR) and I will also discuss "the deal" % wise with the person who wants to do this with me. You also can decide the tournament types and BI's but my stongest skill is rebuys and 15 min blinds, no turbos.

I have a lot of time the next 3 months to play so I will be available more than usual. I think many that will read this trust in my abilities and if I get no stakers I will not be mad, embarrassed, or ashamed. I am mainly doing this to try it out and see how it works. I obviously have the money to play on my own but this is something I've been wanting to try.

I also have been running hot lately going deep in the 3$ rebuy only to become unlucky to finish 26th out of 5k+ entries. Please email me or PM on CC.

kingcurtis@inbox.com

KC Challenge

2009-03-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

I'm kinda bored and want to do something different. SO I've decided to make a simple challenge for myself on FTP. I will Start with 5$ and play the micro stakes. My goal is to get to 1k.

So here are the rules:

1. I can only play up yo 4 tables at once

2. 6 months to reach $1k

3. No time limit for each session

4. I do not have to follow BRM until the minimum (20 BIs) for the first level(2NL) is reached. So Once I reach 40$ in my BR, I will only buy in for 2$ at each table.

5. 1 mtt per day, following BRM.(freerolls anytime and as many as I want)

Once I reach 1k, I will most likely cash it out or trade it to Poker Stars to make my roll there bigger. I am very optimistic about this and have a good feeling I can be disciplined enough to get there! Wish me luck!

GoldStar

2009-03-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

That's right, first time ever making gold star, and only half way through the month(posting this late). So my month so far has been...meh, due to me killing 25nl at the beginning,then dropping like 8 BIs then staying even , and now I am working back up. Still in the positive, about 450$ but my goal was def 1k and 50nl shots. O well I am willing to take as much time that is needed to learn and get better at cash games.
Seems like some others are having turn around months, but it seems March Ironic as it is for CC has been unlucky in March.
April is looking to be fun for me. As I will have a lot more time due to only going to school Part Time so I am planning on some deep runs in MTTs. But I am getting a head of myself, March isn't over.
My goal is to stay positive and just win. I am not worrying about points, star status, or tables/hands. It is all about being profitable.

POKER!!

2009-02-23T12:40:00.001-08:00

Ahh, finally I feel back to normal with you!! I am still losing to some sick hands but winning now too. I think you must have forgave me for that nasty letter, so will I. Anyways enough of all this weird stuff and me talking to poker like it is a human.

So this month has been good so far, not only poker but in life too! I had a baby girl! YAY, and she is beautiful. I can't wait to teach her how to play :)

As for poker, for only playing about 4k hands in ring and a couple mtts and sngs, I've profited around 300$, not bad considering how much I played. I also have finally moved up to 25NL and am doing fine so far, but a really small sample so we'll see how march goes. I'll keep you guys posted and try to blog more, although it seems it is unlucky to untill the end of the month :D

A letter to poker.....

2009-02-04T19:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Poker,

In the past you have had your ups and downs with me...mostly ups for the most part. This was a good time and I liked you for this. But now unfortunately I dislike you and to put it simply,I hate you. Seriously. I hope you get beat up or something or die...well not quite. But i don't like you anymore and don't care.

Sincerely,
your new non best friend

Student

2009-01-26T07:36:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about poker, and were I am at in this crazy world of it. Can I be a successful cash player? Can I win another big mtt? It seems that since I won the 13k I want to beat that....instead of winning smaller amounts, like 1k or 2k here and there in smaller mtts. This is really not good for me or my BR, so I've decided to still play but study more in comparison to playing poker. More like 30% poker and 70% studying. I am really thinking about joining stox poker and I want to just get as much as I can from that. I also have been just reading and reading on CardsChat. I have went from a mega spammer to a silent studier the last two months, if anyone has noticed. I think this is a time in my life of poker where I am really seeing the reality of discipline and how important it is in order to move up in limits and have a good win rate.
Another thing is after I study a good amount and decide to put more time into playing poker, I might just start at 25nl with 20 BIs and go from there. I will find all my leaks and adjust accordingly also, hopefully through help of others.
Another thing I really am trying to learn, is the HUD software. Before I would never use a HUD and play off basic reads, memory, and knowledge of the other players. Therefor I subconsciously block the HUD when I am in a hand and almost forget about it until the hand is over. I really need to slowdown and see what I've got in front of me.
Another thing I really am looking forward to is training myself. At the lower limits straight forward play is needed and I think sometimes I get a bit fancy and lose my composure. It's time to straighten up and just grind the simple play out until I move up in limits!

Motivation Works!

2009-01-14T22:43:00.000-08:00

Well right after all this talk about starting at 10nl and being pumped and motivated has really payed off. I went from 25$ and 2 tables to 6 tabling with almost all at max buy-ins. I was really excited that my HUD was better working now, but now that I have actually used it multi-tabling i am super stoked to the max!
So I'll just leave you with a nice graph and good start!

Lost!?(not the televeision show geez)

2009-01-14T19:21:00.000-08:00

Well as you know I had and still have a lot going on in my life right now. With school starting it is getting even worse. Right now I think I have been running more badly in poker than ever before. I also, somehow, lost my patience for sngs and mtts. The thing is I remember losing patience before, but gaining it back after a break and some tweaking/re-evaluating, but I just can't find it.
Not only have I lost my patience, but luck which plays a fairly large factor in mtts aka variance, has not been on my side, AT ALL! So I've completely lost my confidence in poker BUT....
For the last month or so I've been reading on CC more than I have been posting(you can pick your jaw up off the floor now), and I've been really reading the infamous monthly threads that have become extremely popular. Anyways I once again have been inspired to possibly play cash games. I dipped my toe in at 10nl and did well as a winning player. I then played a little 25nl in which I was a losing player but my sample size was not even close enough to measure. So since the main reason I switched to cash games back then was because I am going to be so busy is the same reason I am considering it again. I get so pumped reading about everyone's cash sessions.
Another good thing that has me motivated is that my HUD is now working and looks a lot better than before, I am so ready to kill cash games!

So here are my NEW goals for this year:

1. Start back at 10nl
2. Work my way to 25-50nl and learn as much as possible
3. Get sweated as much as possible
4. study
5. BE PATIENT!
6. No spewing
7. have a good time
8. school first though
9. save up my fpp's

Well I really need to have more self discipline here, and It's going to be hard for me but I know I can do it. MY big thing is motivation, and as long as I am I will do great!

Triple Barrel Fun

2008-12-27T18:26:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a while since I have done this(a blog post and a triple barrel lolol), but anyways I wanted to post this in honor of my old bluffing ways. To be honest I don't pull these plays out much anymore and was surprised and even a bit more nervous while waiting for my opponent to make a decision than before. The best part is, I was completely out of position but I had a good read on his flop beat which was weaker than an old person with a walker(no offense)....

PokerStars Game #23318963595: Tournament #127699721, $10+$1 Hold'em No Limit - Level IX (200/400) - 2008/12/27 21:23:49 ET
Table '127699721 262' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: SweetSugar8 (5630 in chips)
Seat 2: queens4111st (12816 in chips)
Seat 3: KingCurtis67 (13420 in chips)
Seat 4: z8eldred (5510 in chips)
Seat 5: MGMHost (12393 in chips)
Seat 6: lwb1419 (7834 in chips)
Seat 7: surferjd (8918 in chips)
Seat 8: jeffetofa (4327 in chips)
Seat 9: slylyne (13712 in chips)
SweetSugar8: posts the ante 50
queens4111st: posts the ante 50
KingCurtis67: posts the ante 50
z8eldred: posts the ante 50
MGMHost: posts the ante 50
lwb1419: posts the ante 50
surferjd: posts the ante 50
jeffetofa: posts the ante 50
slylyne: posts the ante 50
KingCurtis67: posts small blind 200
z8eldred: posts big blind 400
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KingCurtis67 [Js Ah]
MGMHost: folds
lwb1419: folds
surferjd: folds
jeffetofa: folds
slylyne: folds
SweetSugar8: folds
queens4111st: raises 800 to 1200
KingCurtis67: calls 1000
z8eldred: folds
*** FLOP *** [6s 5c Qc]
KingCurtis67: checks
queens4111st: bets 1200
KingCurtis67: raises 1600 to 2800
queens4111st: calls 1600
*** TURN *** [6s 5c Qc] [8s]
KingCurtis67: bets 2400
queens4111st: calls 2400
*** RIVER *** [6s 5c Qc 8s] [7h]
KingCurtis67: bets 4000
queens4111st: folds
Uncalled bet (4000) returned to KingCurtis67
KingCurtis67 collected 13650 from pot
KingCurtis67: doesn't show hand
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 13650 | Rake 0
Board [6s 5c Qc 8s 7h]
Seat 1: SweetSugar8 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 2: queens4111st (button) folded on the River
Seat 3: KingCurtis67 (small blind) collected (13650)
Seat 4: z8eldred (big blind) folded before Flop
Seat 5: MGMHost folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: lwb1419 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: surferjd folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: jeffetofa folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 9: slylyne folded before Flop (didn't bet)

What's going on

2008-12-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

First I want to apologize for not posting that much lately. It's the last two weeks of school and I have finals, and final projects(yay fun). So basically poker has been on a slow down for me, but never fear Christmas break is here. So I should be putting a lot of hours in during the break.
Life is good, My father and his wife(my step mother)just had a baby girl, so I now have a sister 21 years younger than me :O. And to add to that my girlfriend is due in February. So this holiday season is going to be crazy.

First Pro Knockout

2008-11-24T17:19:00.000-08:00

It wasn't the WSOP, and it wasn't Daniel Negreanu, but it was a decent size tourney and a well known pro...atleast I think so! The good thing is that it wasn't a flip, it was more of a real hand where I outplayed him by checking..
Btw if you don't know his username it is Hevad Kahn. The crazy guy who Final Tabled the WSOP ME!

PokerStars Game #22304816076: Tournament #120443273, $50+$5 Hold'em No Limit - Level IV (50/100) - 2008/11/23 17:53:38 ET
Table '120443273 106' 9-max Seat #7 is the button
Seat 1: RaiNKhAN (2370 in chips)
Seat 2: 326River (5723 in chips)
Seat 3: EricDenGode (3070 in chips)
Seat 4: artie0916 (1366 in chips)
Seat 5: M0sdef (2615 in chips)
Seat 6: Stimpar (6458 in chips)
Seat 7: Kentiger (5995 in chips)
Seat 8: Luigi da BP (3311 in chips)
Seat 9: KingCurtis67 (5107 in chips)
Luigi da BP: posts small blind 50
KingCurtis67: posts big blind 100
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to KingCurtis67 [Kc Qh]
RaiNKhAN: raises 200 to 300
326River: folds
EricDenGode: folds
artie0916: folds
M0sdef: folds
Stimpar: folds
Kentiger: folds
Luigi da BP: folds
KingCurtis67: calls 200
*** FLOP *** [7h 6c Qc]
KingCurtis67: checks
RaiNKhAN: bets 400
KingCurtis67: calls 400
*** TURN *** [7h 6c Qc] [Td]
KingCurtis67: checks
RaiNKhAN: bets 1670 and is all-in
KingCurtis67: calls 1670
*** RIVER *** [7h 6c Qc Td] 2♣
*** SHOW DOWN ***
KingCurtis67: shows [Kc Qh] (a pair of Queens)
RaiNKhAN: shows [Ad Kd] (high card Ace)
KingCurtis67 collected 4790 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 4790 | Rake 0
Board [7h 6c Qc Td 2c]
Seat 1: RaiNKhAN showed [Ad Kd] and lost with high card Ace
Seat 2: 326River folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: EricDenGode folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 4: artie0916 folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 5: M0sdef folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 6: Stimpar folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 7: Kentiger (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: Luigi da BP (small blind) folded before Flop
Seat 9: KingCurtis67 (big blind) showed [Kc Qh] and won (4790) with a pair of Queens

25NL, I made it!

2008-11-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

That's right I made it to 25NL, although not the regular cash game grinding way. I also play sngs and mtts so that helped a lot. Right now I only have one session in and I am taking it slow, at max playing 3 tables. I am mainly doing this so that I can use my horrible HUD(hopefully new one comes soon).
Anyways I am pretty glad I am already at this point since it is only halfway through the month. I am not even going to shoot for 50nl as a goal right now, nor is gold star a gol of mine. All I want to do is beat 25nl and be profitable!

Mid Month Progress

2008-11-16T20:36:00.000-08:00

For this being my first month at attempting cash games, I am fairly happy with my progress. Not only am I showing profit but have achieved silver star status at Poker Stars and it's only half way through the month. It also helped that I was playing mtts/sngs on the side and doing well, adding to the BR. I like to think of myself as a hybrid player in the online community. So I'll leave you with this month's progress so far.

I don't know what happened with blogspot but I cannot re-size my jpegs anymore, so just click it for a better view.

+45$ @ 10nl

2008-11-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

I have been getting into a groove here lately, just a solid approach to this limit can easily beat it. I hardly get discouraged anymore since such a low limit is filled with fish of all sorts in which I will eventually take their money. Let's just hope I'm at 25nl sooner than later though.

I don't think I could have done anything different here to get away from it, and I don't think I want to get away from it tbh. I was ahead of his ranges and usually want a drawing hand to get his money and and miss most of the time.

I played this well Preflop and on the flop, but I really need to work on getting the most value possible. I think my tournament aggression shows through here and my bet should have been half of what I really bet?

Basically I am glad that I didn't lose a whole lot here but I def could have gotten away from it now that I look back at it. He made a horrible limp in the SB and when I bet on the flop he check called so it was an obvious sign of trips. He could have had a draw but that is just another reason I probably called the 1$ on the river since he might have hit his straight.

I have been seeing that most of the money I lose is against short stackers getting lucky. So maybe I can make an adjustment but usually I am ahead in those situations so, we will see.

As the Dust Settles

2008-11-13T12:57:00.000-08:00

Well the good thing is that whole tilt thing didn't last long and I am back to continue my run at 10nl. The bad thing is I am starting all over at a 200$ Bank Roll. I was around 450$ before tilting and close to 25nl, but it's ok, I'd rather see this as me dipping my toe into the pool of cash games. Hopefully By the new year I will be playing 50nl, but that's a more optimistic goal. My more easily achievable goal is just to be a profitable player at 10nl or 25nl.
My problem was that I was obviously reaching for some hard goals. The good friends that I have at Cards Chat basically told me to not have any goals other than just beating the limit I am at. I was still profiting at the pace I was going, but I think I can profit a lot more by slowing down and playing less tables.
I also want to get a lot more Hand Histories via the replay animations, so that will make for better reading and learning.

Tilt

2008-11-11T21:42:00.000-08:00

Tilting tilts me, so basically its a never ending process of tilting when I tilt. I really need to work on my disciple if I want to play cash games seriously. I don't know if there is a system or over time and experience you acquire it, but I need to do something...or maybe that's the thing, I always need to do something. Maybe I am playing way too much and need to break down my playing sessions. It feels like when I quit I just go back and play agian since I have nothing to do...or I think too long about how much I lost so I chase it even more. Tilt.......what a bastard

GoldStar?

2008-11-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

Ok so since last Monday until yesterday(Sunday) I earned a little over 1k in fpps. This while playing the majority at the end of the week. I have a feeling that if I play like I played over the weekend for the next 3 weeks, I can make Gold Star @ 10nl. I already have 17k hands in for last week and am going for 20k this week. Wish me luck, it's going to be a hell of a lot of grinding :)

10nl YAY

2008-11-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

Well I've said before that I was going to move to cash games but eventually gave up and went back....but now I have about 7500 hands at 10nl and am finally in the positive for profit for this horrible week. I am actually excited about this whole move to cash thing. I have already dedicated myself as I put in over 3500 hands in one day.
I really don't think I have to explain why I made the move since its obvious. I'm having a kid soon, have no time, and have school, So cash games are perfect. I leave you with my graph :)

the graph is large but just click on it to see it at a nice size

Hand Reading

2008-10-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

Here is another blog post that has nothing to do with my other articles but I felt it was good enough to post. It seems the more I play and the more hours I put in, I can read my opponents hands a lot more easier. Although that almost seems logical I didn't think I could be this good. Now this hand seems like an easy call, but at this low limit a player could have any hand especially KJ. But honest to god I put him on KQ. Now I have no proof since I thought this in my mind but I trust you will beleive me. I am just more proud at myself for being exactly on!

Being Too Predictable in an MTT

2008-10-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

This is a more indepth article about what I posted in my "Tip of the Day". The tip is talking more about how you play when playing against regulars, or in live play. I want to talk more about how you play at a table late in an mtt when you are not being moved so much, and could be at a table with players for up to or more than an hour.
Not all but some good players take notes if you make a bluff, good play, or if you are tight, or loose. So, if you change your game up, or "switch gears" a player will never know where you at in a hand, thus giving you a huge advantage for advanced plays.

For Example: A player or players at your table have you pegged as an extremly tight player who has raised preflop with premium hands only. When the blinds get higher and stealing becomes a must to mantain a nice stack, then raising in or even out of position will most likely get you some extra chips, since they are afraid that you have a premium hand. Also C-betting(Continuation Betting) becomes another weapon for you as a tight player since many LAG(Loose Aggressive) players will get called down if they continue betting.

This also works for LAG type players, actually I think it works more in the favor of LAG players since many will not believe that you have a hand and will call you down with mid pair or even bottom pair thinking they are making a good read/play.

This obviously can work at a cash table too, it could really screw up all those PT(PokerTracker) users and also those not using software. My advice is to always be changing the way you play, but do not take this the wrong way. I am not saying that you should play completly stupid at a time when you are not playing tight.

For Example: Let's say you are playing TAG(Tight Aggressive) at a cash game. Once you decide to switch gears do not think that playing 7 2 os(off suit) is justifiable since it is technically changing your game up. What I'm trying to say is play some mediocre hands like suited connectors. If you play these hands even if you are called and they have a big hand you're usuall not too far behind. You're about a 7/5 underdog so you still have about 42% chance of winning. Actually 10 9 suited has the best chance of winning against pocket Aces than any other hand.

One thing that you should not change is the way you bet. This also keeps them guessing and does not give away any information. You may be changing the way you play but not the way you bet.

For Example: Let's say you always raise 3 times the BB with premium hands. Many will have this noted mentally or in there not section. So when you change gears and make that same raise, then many will automatically think that you have a premium hand.

Making this adjustment to yuor game will help a lot. Too many begginers who are crossing over to the more advanced plays stick to the same way of playing and do not make the transition. Try this way of playing and see how it works for you. I can guarantee you will be more respected by the end of the game.

Quick KC Update

2008-09-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

Well with the new Bankroll I have been doing quite well, a couple 500$+ finishes and multiple Final Tables. Also a new cash for me at 4 Max which netted me a little over 1k. I will post these small updates in between the other educational posts. I'm also thinking about creating or producing a 6-max strategy of my own, so look out for that! Also look out for my run at HORSE, which I am really trying to learn and get better at :)

Patience

2008-09-25T08:38:00.000-07:00

This lesson pertains to everything, from BR management, how many seesions or games you play, to when it is your turn to act. I've realized lately that patience, no matter how many times you hear the word, is key.

Bank Roll Management- Patience in this aspect is useful to the player who has a set limit of money online. Usually a player can start off playing with some sort of BRM. Then something happens, and some people may think that it is only losing that triggers this, but it is both winning and losing in which failing at BRM can occur. When losing a person usually wants to quickly get back to whee they were and moves up in limits. Bad Idea! When winning, a player may think that he/she has the money now, or thinks that he/she can beat this level of play. Wrong!
The best thing to do when you are winning is stay at those limits, I mean you're winning and beating that level! When you are losing, and I'm not talking about just one bad beat or game, basically just stop playing for a while. I find this to be the best solution, since moving down in limits doesn't mean you still can't lose a lot of money.

Sessions- Patience in this aspect is dependent on how much you play at a time or in a session. A session pertains more to the cash game player, so your best bet is to set a time limit. A good friend of mine almost always plays a 1 hour session. Now that may seem like a small amount of time, but thats not the only 1 hour session in a day. If he is down in a session, he doesn't play more to win more money back, he stops at his hour then plays a 1 hour session later.
When it comes to tournament players it is pretty ovbious. Many last up to 7 hours, so if you go deep that's your session, and most likely a winning one at that. But if you continue to lose early in sngs or mtts, don't keep playing, either your luck is horrible or there is a leak in your early game. The number 1 reason why begginner players are losing players is because they play too many hours. Remember that.

Your Turn- I have been taking a little more time when I act in games lately and it has been helping a lot. I know and see a lot of players who are all about quick action and decisions, and personally I think that that kind of play is a path for bad decision making. My suggestion is to take your time obviously, but look at the other players bets, your position, and then think about what has happened previously in the hand, or before in another hand while playing with these playes. By taking more time, you also can put the person on a hand and be more confident in your decisions.

High Blinds- I have been asked this question before, "what do I do if I am mid to short stacked late in an mtt and sng when the blinds are getting high?". I usually say it depends, or atleast I would have said that before. But now I say "be patient!" I have learned that folding is a bigger weapon then betting, of course pertaining to short or mid stacks. I have been down late in an sng, maybe 5-10 BBs and I would want to give up and push, try to double up and come back. What I have found is that waiting even longer can change a lot of things. I first realized this when I was approaching the Final Table of the 3$ rebuy on Poker Stars. It was late and my friend Aloe kept telling me to be patient don't push with just anything. Usually I'd get anxious and push and pray, but this time I waited got some cards and made the Final tbale and won close 800$. Another example was really late in the 11$ rebuy. I was down to 7BBs and thought I was a gonner. I then kept waiting and before I knew it, 1 , 2 , 3 double ups, since many large stacks gambled with short stacks with mediocre hands. I got to the final table and was the short stack, I was patient...and guess what it payed off, I won the whole tournament for $13k. So be patient...please?

13 is my new favorite number

2008-09-21T05:49:00.000-07:00

Well at first I was worried to play this since it was way out of my roll. then I said fuck it, and went for....First hand of the tournament I got AK and lost to KJ AIPF and rebought...from there I just played a good, patient, game, and it payed off, i was down to 7 BBs at the final table at one time and I came back to be chip leader and HU with 15 million lol. I folded quads atleast 3 times through out the tourney just because of non racing situations. But it paid off and now I am 13k$ richer! I wish I had some HH's to put in the handplayer andif Ifind them I will update...

Here is the link to the win ans Screen Shot!

http://www.cardschat.com/f42/kingcurtis67-pokerstars-127978/index2.html#post927480

Me Blogging?

2008-09-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

Yep, It's me again, and I have some different plans for my next hopefully 100+ posts here on my blog. I plan on going in a different direction, rather than just talk about my experiences and my hands or tournaments I want to talk more poker educational. My goal is to help others to learn, what I have, and hopefully become successful or a become a non losing player.

Some of my post may be a handful of other things that I have learned, and may come from other places or sites. To me as long as you are learning, it shouldn't matter where it is coming from. Hopefully I can update my tip of the day as much as possible, as I did not so much before, and I think it's a nioce quick read for valuable information.

I do not know how much I will be posting, or how long after the last post I will be posting, but I can gaurantee quality posts that you will enjoy!

Proud

2008-09-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

Pretty impressed with my drunken self last night while playing poker. I only played 1c/2c and when I lost 1 buy-in as usual when drunk I stopped. Seriously usually I lose a lot or go way out of bankroll management when intoxicted, and unless you get lucky, you usually lose by playing so aggressively or loose to have fun...but I did not! So I am just letting everyone know that if you do drink and play, jus tplay the lowest limits possible and stop when you lose!

UB Update

2008-09-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

Well I'm on a hot streak today and wish I didn't have to stop for the night...
I played another 6 max SNG, this time a 5.50$, you guessed it, first place and 21$ later I was up to 29$....then I decide to sit down at a 10nl table. I have been really reading up on full ring lately and I can tell I am getting better since most of my winnings lately are good calls and not too much luck...any ways I made the mistake of buying in for 5$ but about 2 minutes later i was up around 18$...lol

Last night I won 5$
Today: 41.51 :)

CC Ferguson Challenge

2008-09-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well, since I am not playing hardly at all other than CC free rolls, I am going to try this Ferguson Challenge on CC. I guess it is some what of a contest since there is a leader board and all but the bad thing is I will only be playing when I have the time....which isn't a lot lol.
What inspired me to play was winning 5$ in the UB free roll last night for CC. I was doing well and was in First place with only 20 left for a while. I hit some bad hands and eventually donked off the rest since in this type of payout structure(20-4 get 5$ and 1-3$ are only ones different) I had to either make a stack or bust.

So with that 5$ I played a 2$ 6 person SNG and some 1c/2c cash games which usually I'm horrible at but I did well and I was up to about 9.30$. Then I took a shot at 4 tabling 1c/2c and again I did well(UB tables are the softest) and now I am around 13.50$
The goal for this challenge is the first to 1K so we'll see....I'm guessing a big win in an mtt will get me the best shot.....the bad thing is I love UB tourneament structures but the software is ughhhh....anyways gl to all the rest in the challenge should be fun, and it's nice to be blogging again :)

Out of Steam

2008-08-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

Well, It's happening....

I'm losing the passion for poker that I had for almost the past 3 years. Where has it gone? Why has it gone? I have some idea why, but where, I have no idea. To be honest, I am mad that it is gone, that I no longer am excited to play, or want to play an Mtt so bad......It's a horrible feeling....the only motivation I have right now is Cardschat and the great friends that I do not want to lose if I stop playing(there's always FR's though ;) )
Anyways I really think that since I've been doing like, insanely well in school, and putting a lot of hours into my work.....that I have traded the passion I have for poker for the passion I have for design....like right now I have a project where I am designing a whole cd case front to back and everything, and I am so into it...like I was with poker and playing. But I fell like I want to do both?!
The thing is I do better in school if I don't play.....which then leads me to say that I will will play when school's over right? Wrong! When I get out, almost immediately I will be working at a job or internship, so even more work is in hand. I mean I know others have jobs and play, for example, my good friend Icemonkey...he juggles both, and I've seen his work.....top notch, but me I need to focus on one thing I guess....maybe it's just me learning to multi task better to enjoy what I love.
But it's not even that, seriously, when I have free time at night, I don't even feel like opening up PokerStars and playing, it's the weirdest feeling, because 2 weeks ago I would have been running to the computer....ugh

So basically what I am getting at is that I doubt I will be blogging anymore at all, or for a very long time. The main reason for my problem above, and another for the lack of interest in my boring blog in the first place :p...guess I should advertise it more on CC? lol!
Well to all my readers gl, and sry....I still be at CC though :)

First KC Blog Rant/Vent

2008-08-18T23:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, well for some reason everytime I try to play at Full Tilt poker, I have been havving the worst luck. Meaning I go in ahead and with the best hand and get sucked out on. I don't have the HH's and tbh I'm tired and lazy right now, so here is some sloppy HH's...

1. Quaded
Hero: AK
Villian: AJ

AIPF/Board: AAJJJ

So that one was pretty rough and was also about 2 hands into a big mtt, so it was really heart breaking.

2. Set? Not for me!

Hero: 33
Villian:22

AIPF/Board: 10 2 K J 4

Basically 2 outers suck

3. HU blahhh

Hero: 5h7h
Villian: Ah4c

PF: Both limped
Flop: 3h 10h 2c(both check)
Turn: Kh(Villian bets pot I rereaise, he reraises allin I call)
River: 8h

So pretty much, even though I know Full Tilt is not rigged, the site seriously hates me ever since I've been mainly playing at Poker Stars...lol

so ijhrkj949u49jekhjire9*&(_(_!_&(&*(^*(^&*$#_*^^*%$&%85hpoiugjng

there is my yelling and ranting for the night!

Another Slow Down

2008-08-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I plan on not playing poker so much as I have been these last few weeks. Mainly because I have no BR(cashed out all of it), but also just to slow down from playing so much and focus on some other things. The thing is, I like these breaks I take because for some reason they help so much when I come back. I think I might do this from now on, as a ritual, or a reset button to help me continue my grind. Not to mention I just got a new car and have a baby on the way...I could have kept a lot of money on and could potentially have won more, but I'd rather take the money and know I have it...

LOL SRY

2008-08-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

I wasn't feeling too good, and right now, although I am doing better in poker I just feel like I could do better.....i think i even wrote something but I don't know what happened....rest assured I'm not going anywhere, at least I know you guys are reading ;)

Bye

2008-08-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

I Guess We'll See Who Post First

2008-08-06T06:37:00.000-07:00

Pretty Easy......Post in the rail request section..........Title: KC VS. "your name"

Body: Who do you think will win out of me and KC??

Easy right? I'll ship as soon as I see it!

August Goals

2008-08-04T20:03:00.001-07:00

Well after seeing Icemonkey's goals for July, I was inspired to make some for August. So here they are....

1. Sattelite into the Sunday Million(I always get so close, HU actually and lose)

2. Win a SNG or MTT with more than 45 ppl. Amazing as it sounds I have never won a SNG that had more than 45 people it, so I need one, not for the money, but for me.

3. Make Silver status again.

4. Save all fpp's, no spending. I wanna save up for something nice.

Well only 4 for now but I like a low amount of goals. Easier to make :D

KC is Back!

2008-08-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Well I was hoping for a lot more but what can I say $64.80/hour is not bad at all...

I was chip leader going into the final table, and at the beginning of the final table I was on the rush of a lifetime.....wish i would have spread it ou till the end(4th was a $110 jump :( )
I pretty much didn't catch hands after a while and the blinds engulfed my stack. I had awesome railers, as usual, GG KC

PS 10$ HU Loves me

2008-08-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

Well I have been doing this weird strategy lately, but not with my poker game, but a BR strategy....I know sounds crazy but it has been working!

I am around 200$ right now since cashing out some yesterday, so lately what I have been doing, is if I see an MTT or SNG I wanna play, then I play a HU match to cover it....and lately its been looking like this...

A lot of First hand wins or 3rd hand wins, some don't even last 10 hands and I've won!

I don't know if this strategy is fool proof for my BR since usually the HU are out of my brm specs, but we'll see what happens, I guess this is a trial tester than.

Cheers to My New BR

2008-08-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

Well I have been running exceptionally well ever since I deposited. From winning the Thursday night CC event, then winning another 45 man 5$ with Inscore placing 2nd, then winning a 5$ 18 man for 36$....it just seems like a little rush for now, but I'm ready for a bad streak ;)

Anyways not too much to talk about...Oh yeah I almost ran deep deep in an mtt but got 41/1361...it was a 3$ and I made about 9$ profit...not bad but 1st was in my path....anyways I'll end this post with my new gradually better looking SS, I plan on posting some goals that Icemonkey inspired me to do also next post.

Lucky, but not Lucky enough...

2008-07-31T07:03:00.000-07:00

Yeah so this is how it was going for me up to the first break in a 5.50$ mtt, including this...

and we all hate the feeling of the BB waiting forever to act then he just folds, and your AA is useless.....although i did run into this partiicular craziness to double me up...

Well I can't find the HH lol, but anyways I raised 3 times the BB PF and he pushed about 3K with pockets 3's, I called with AK and i flopped the broadway straight lol, Q J 10....weeeeee

I'll update how I do in this, although I just took a bad hit from trying to bluff, and I'm actually at the same table as a fellow CCer!

Doubtful Yet Hopeful

2008-07-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

The title although somewhat of an oxymoron, is true. The reason why I am so doubtful is due to the fact that I do not think that I am ready for the cash game switch just yet. I still feel as if though my aggression levels are to high coming from an mtt history. The reason why am still hopeful is that I still am going to continue to learn and fix leaks in my cash game, game. Another big reason I am not taking the jump to cash games just yet is due to constant school work, and also as I doubt any readers are not from Cards Chat,but you all know I have a child on the way. Therefore, I need to focus more on those things than poker. Right now it's looking like big mtt's on the weekend and that's about it. I might not even be on CC spamming that much(*roll eyes). Seriously though I need to step up and take responsibilty for a lot of other things, then poker, and eventually a WSOP bracelet :P

A HIgh Hero Read

2008-07-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

This Guy was playing pretty loose from the get go. So I was just testing him here and on the river I just had a gut feeling he was bluffing his ass off!

Three Bullets!

2008-07-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a good example of what I was trying to get across in my bluffing strategy, found here... http://www.cardschat.com/f4/kc-4k-bluffing-strategy-post-119188/

Although in this hand I make a value bluff, meaning i bet small trying to make it look like I'm just trying to get as much as I can because I have a good hand, instead of betting strongly to make it look like a bluff!

River Bluff Doesn't Work!!

2008-07-16T19:53:00.001-07:00

I don't know what happened here, but that guy did not go all in PF. Somethings wrong with the HH. He wasn't even in the hand!

Aggression @ 2nl

2008-07-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

Well recently I realized I had 0.25 cents in my Poker Stars account, so I signed up for the 0.25 cent mtt last night on PS and ended up min cashing for 0.49 cents. I didn't want to play another micro mtt so I went to the limit tables built it up to over 1$ so that I could go to a NL table. I then sat down with 1.12$ at a FR NL table and proceeded to turn that into about 5$. So now I am multi tabling 3 tables of 1$ buy ins at 2nl. It is quite fun! Here is what has been going on in my journey/grind.

I have already does this same move twice on the player and he/she continues to let me steal. Although we recently got into this little hand which I was dissapointed at the dealer for basicaly counterfeiting me.....

New and Inspired Goal

2008-07-14T14:07:00.000-07:00

Well, like many other joining the cash game wagon, I'm hopping on the back too! I'm going to deposit 200$ and start at 10nl, working my way up hopefully to 25nl, 50nl, ect. Since I play mtts and Sngs only now, I want this to be my main poker interest. I will play Mtts on the weekends, mainly the rebuys and hopefully sattilites on Saturday to get in to the Sunday Million.

During the week and school I will be playing cash games. This means after I am done with all my work, so only prolly like 1-2 hour session 2-3 days out of the week. Tbh I am really inspired by many others, and keep hearing the same thing......cash games are more PROFITABLE! I myself am really excited to start, mainly because it feels like I just met poker all over again, and we all know that wonderful feeling,

So the last couple days, and the days up to the day I deposit(July 24th) I have been and will be reading as many cash game articles, videos, and whatever else I can get my hands on. It's going to be almost like a CRAM, before a big test. I'm not to worried though since I know a lot already from experience and have dabbled in cash games from home games to casinos(.25/.50$-1/2$).

I will be updating here obviously, and really can't wait to see what I can do. I can see 100nl already :)

A Good Start, A Bad Start, and A Bad Finish

2008-07-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Well I ended up doing wel in the CC FT OFC FR...whew, anyways I won 25$ for my efforts and was upset how I lost (since it was a suckout) but then again happy that I played well and didn't lose when I was behind at forst...if that makes sense.
So I play an 8.80$ MTT. Yes I know bad BRM, but this is free money that I wanted to turn into something quickly. I also know that the 8.80 mtts are def beatable with my experience. So this is what happened the very first hand!

I guess the only thing I think I could hvae done differently would be slowing down on the turn wiht a normal bet like 1/2 to 2/3 the pot....I might have had chips by the end or slowed down on the river but I doubt it due to my aggressive style.

The Official KC Strategy

2008-07-04T21:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks: To Cards chat in general for helping me grow into the player I am now, if it was not for this site and the members I have became friends with this strategy would never have been made! Also a big thanks to Inscore for helping add some things and helping also with fine tuning it.

Introduction: First let me start off by saying that this is my own strategy that may be similar to other ones, or somewhat slightly off and in some eyes not right....but that is their opinion and and it has worked for me so It doesn't really matter. I also want to let you know that I am open to making this strategy better, by being open to new suggestions or comments about the strategy, which can be done by commenting on my blog www.kingcurtisblog.blogspot.com . Other than that I hope this strategy helps you to win money and be successful in poker tournaments!

Beginning until first break- This part of the strategy may be very similar to other strategies that you may have read about or followed. This is a very critical part of the path to the Final Table, although almost every section of this strategy is critical but this is where we build our stack in order to survive raising blinds, and eventual use our stack as an aggressive weapon, but I'll shed light on that subject later.
Small Ball Poker- This is a term used by many professionals including Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, and many others. I actually learned this way of playing when first reading Daniel Negreanu's book. Here is my unofficial definition of "Small Ball Poker"- Playing more pots than usual, while being aggressive and taking down small pots to build a larger stack slowly but surely.
The definition explains that you play a lot of pots, well in my strategy I don't play as many, I actually play fairly tight, but when I do play a hand, I play like this. Also later in this strategy I use this Small Ball strategy almost exactly.

Starting Hands and Selection- These are the starting hands that are played in this strategy up to the first break.

(AA, KK, QQ, JJ, 10 10): These hands I'm raising in any position usually about 3x-4x the BB(Big Blind). I know it's different than in all the poker books, and from what all the pros say. Usually it's 3x the BB, but with these hands and my strategy I raise 4x or 3x the BB also so remember that! The main reason this is done is to prevent the weak hands from playing or maybe even stray low PP away and not from hitting. This is standard other than the 4x the BB raise, I only do this to keep the aggressive aura and betting strategy intact. The last and final thing is, if you are going to raise, raise either one all the time, if you raise 3 x the BB all the time it will be harder to read by others when your raising since you always raise with 3x wether you have AA or AK. Same as 4x the BB, if you do it once, do it the rest of the time.

(AK, AQ, AJ, A 10, KQ): These hands are mainly played in late position(one of the last three spots starting from the dealer button counter clockwise). With the exception of raising AK and AQ in any position. Another possible controversial play, but this is how my strategy is played. My thoughts on A 10, AJ, and KQ are as follows. Honestly I don't like them this early in a tournament and they can get you into some trouble, mainly due to kicker problems(hitting an A, K, or Q and not having the kicker to beat hands that are better. Any of these hands the standard raise here is 3x the BB unlike the high PPs talked about earlier. Try not to play these at all especially not in early position.

(99-22): With these low PPs(Pocket Pairs) I'm "limping in"(calling the same amount of the current BB), in any position, and never raising(at least at this point in the tournament). The best thing to do is just limp and hope others also get in, because the more people in the hand when you hit your set the better. These hands are also really nice to play since they are easy to get away from and usually you can't lose a lot of money, and you usually win a lot of money. There can be times where you limp in and someone else raises. In this situation you can call depending on position(mainly late) and how much the raise is or how many raises/reraises are done. There are numbers out there but I came up with my own for myself and this is what I follow for this particular strategy. Whenever you are facing a raise while holding a PP only call a raise up to 6% of your stack. The good thing about this is that usually people are raising 3x the BB and if you have an average stack you can easily call that. If you have a short stack it doesn't mean that you fold since its too much because usually your in the push/fold stage and push in that situation anyways. I like to call these the sniper hands, because usually they are not picked up on and no one sees it coming.

1st Break-2nd Break/3rd, 4th, etc.- By this time the blinds are getting higher and the average stack is raising also. This part goes for all the breaks that it takes to get to about 10-20 people before the bubble. I'll explain why it stops at 10-20 people before the bubble in the next part, let's just focus on this time period for now. By this time hopefully you have built a nice stack which is either over or around average. Obviously being a big stack is nice but if your around or at average your still doing well and have a good shot at making the final table.

Stack Sizes- This is the way that I learned to calculate where I am at stack wise compared to everyone else in a tournament. If you have less than 12 BB: Short Stack, 12-16 BB: Mid Short, 16-22: Mid., 22-30: Mid High, 30+ : Large. The math is simple, take your stack divided by the current BB(grade school math lol)

Starting Hands and Selection- Same as the starting hands for the first hour. I would also like to note that this strategy does not contain the use of suited connectors, which many love and can get attached to. Although many pros say to switch gears by raising in position with suited connectors and such, but this strategy does not! Suited connectors can be used to hit multiple different combinations of hands but can also get you in trouble if you do not know how to play them correctly. For now stay away from them and don't even limp with them in late position.

Pocket Pairs during this period- This is different than the beginning until break, since now is when I actual raise with 99-77. Although only raise in late positions. This is mainly to switch gears and keep others guessing, so limp in late position every once and a while too.

10-20 people away from ITM(In the Money)- Here is where we start to loosen up more than ever compared to any other point in the tournament and at the same time become ultra aggressive. You ask why, well it's simple but you must be careful at the same time and pick your spots. The reason why we do this is because many, especially the smaller stacks or average stacks wanna make the money and do not wanna risk losing their stack right before it hits. So you can take advantage by being aggressive and raising with a wider range of hands in position and also UTG(under the gun). Raising under the gun may sound bad but it is not, in fact it can be very effective in stealing blinds, NOT IN STEALING POTS ON OR AFTER THE FLOP(remember that) for you are OOP(out of position) and have a less advantage. If you have a small stack you are usually push/fold anyways so this doesn't apply, only to average or big stacks(which you should be by playing this strategy). Here is when you play all the hands in the last two sections plus suited connectors in position, and also raising in position with hands like (KJ, QJ, K 10, Q 10)
Remember other players, especially big stacks will also take advantage and many player in which you are bullying wont just take the beating, so pick your spots and try and spot out all the folders or tight scared people. On another note, make sure to take notes if possible throughout the tourney or now, if you can pin point a couple tight players, ATTACK! Also if you have a poker manager software you obviously can tell who is who through stats. The main point is to be more aggressive than ever at this time of the tournament.

Final Table: Alright, the infamous Final Table. From Studying actual videos of my own final table finishes, I've put together the best information, not only to get higher in the money, but to win the whole tournament!

The Final Table, Just like the bubble is extremely tight, just like right before the bubble, but It seems every time I played like I do before the bubble(LAG), I end up getting knocked out way too early(9th,8th,7th, etc.). I've noticed that by playing tight I have gotten farther, as the goal is to win or get maximum prize money, but at the same time I still steal blinds.....

Stealing Blinds: Please be careful and follow these instructions carefully. While stealing blinds, you can run into a hand, which is usually calling or re-raising, which means you obviously have to slow down. Now in some cases, if you have been repeatedly stealing from the same person/people a re-steal can be made, therefore looking like a big hand but is most likely weaker than yours. This brings us to when and who you actually steal from during the final table....
As was said before taking notes can be a huge advantage in the way you make plays or steal blinds from certain players.
My main concern for anyone willing to put there neck out there and steal some blinds is that many do it too much or do it in a certain patter to the same people without realizing it. Try and switch it up in a random order on the people you know are tight, make no common pattern, even make the raises different sizes, but not enough to seem strange.
I have noticed through research and studying that blind stealing is crucial in order to survive the blinds growing higher since the play is tight and few are getting knocked out.

5-3 handed: Play here tends to get loose, as others know at this point that the odds have changed. My suggestion is to again play tight but steal when possible. Don't forget, your not the most unlucky person here, you will get a nice hand from time to time and could possibly double up or knock someone out, stealing isn't your only option to survive. If you are up against all the loose/stealing type of players, then let them hang themselves and kill each other. It would be better to have a big stack take out 3 people to make it HU than you being knocked out in 4th or 5th, think about it.

The only time you should play aggressive here is if the others or the majority are tight players, then be hyper aggressive! Take control of everything, make them pay to see anything, but don't get caught bluffing!

Heads Up: One word: Aggression. Depending on if you are a big stack, low stack, or even, some things could change for this strategy. But if you are even in stacks or if you are the big stack especially, be the aggressor, and ATTACK! Raise in position, with a wide range of hands. I don't want to go through the fundamentals of HU, but you should all know any Ace, PP's, or face cards, are good.
If you are a low stack, congrats for getting this far, and don't give up, you still have a chance here. My suggestion here is to pretty much push when you have any of the hands above obviously, but also try and steal in some situations. Depending on how low of a stack you are could be dangerous since the big stack could be calling with almost anything to win. Obviously don't push with any hand, wait for your spot, you'll know!

Never be scared in this situation also, no matter what your stack size is either. Just be confident and play with your instincts, the other player doesn't have a hand every time so don't be afraid to raise your middle pair on the flop, or semi-bluff with a flush draw or straight draw.

Extra Strategy(Advanced): C-bettting and beating the C-better

C-betting can be and cannot be profitable, depending on when and who you use this bet on. Obviously scouting your opponents while playing at the same table can maximize this strategy. Using a Poker manager or a Poker Tracker type software is best since it shows whether they are tight pre flop, or make c-bets themselves. If you are not using software like this like I do, then you must pay attention to everything, from betting patterns to bluffing, always, ALWAYS pay attention. This means no distractions during a tournament. If you are serious about making money please follow this rule.

Now for the actual strategy. First we will start with C-betting. If you do not know already C-betting means: Continuation Betting: and it is exactly what it sounds, for example:

Here is a hand FR(Full Ring) with two player to the flop.

Hero: AK

Villan: AQ

Hero raises 3 x the BB on the button and Villan calls in the BB.

Flop: 10 J 3

Villan: Checks

Hero: Bets 3/4 the pot this is a text book C-bet. Hero doesn't have a made hand, but since he has position on Villan, he bets and takes down the pot in most cases...........this is were stopping the C-better comes into play.

Lets say we are the Villan, in his position with the same hand scenario. In this case if you have a good read, or think that since Hero is on the button he has a hand like AK or AQ and is just C-betting, we could try a re-steal.(this is a very advanced move and isn't used a lot). Remember if they re-raise or just call on the flop we must slow down. This can be done to aggressive stealers, which hopefully you have spotted by now through your software or notes by paying CLOSE attention. This is also a nice thing which will pay off later, when blinds go up even more, they won't try and steal your blinds and make moves constantly.

KC Strategy!?

2008-07-02T18:25:00.000-07:00

OK, Well I've been writing this long extensive strategy article for MTT's for a while now and it's getting pretty technical with some pretty advanced/controversial plays in it. Anyways, I was initially going to post it here on my blog as a strategy for beginners and advanced players alike, but now I am having cold feet. First of all I don't want everyone knowing how I play, even though I do switch gears, but still the strategy is similar. Also if everyone knows this or uses it then I am basically playing myself. Now I know not everyone is going to read/use/like this strategy, some may disagree with it totally, but should I post it, and reveal some secrets or keep it to myself?

Another rough start

2008-06-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

Well, I basically lost the small BR that I had since the last post mainly because of the limits I was playing at, or at least that's what I could come up with as an excuse. I must say I don't see how some people do it by only depositing 20$, the only way I have ever made a good amount of money and kept a BR is if I deposited about 4-5 times more than that.
Anyways a friend sent me 4.40$ since he owed me that and I almost forgot about. So I entered a 3.40$ 18 person and ended up winning it, making my BR about 23$. That was just yesterday and since then I played last night and bubbled a 180 man tournament getting 23rd which was sickening since the top 18 got paid, and also bubbled exactly in 6th in a 5$ 18 man with QQ when JJ hit a J on the turn. So I had a pretty bad night last night luck wise and basically got upset and went to a 25 nl ring game with 9$ and turned it into 18$ then lost another 5$ SNG......whew!
So to sum this all up I am still alive with 13$ and am currently playing in a 18 person 3.40$ SNG, so I'm excited to play smart and turn this BR into something more of my standards!

Another thing I wanted to talk about before I go is that a lot of friends online that I have are playing or switching to playing cash games. This has caught my attention and I really might start playing these and learning. I also might mention that watching one of ChuckTs FR ring game analysis on CC was very inspirational and is also a big motivator in this new idea and decision........but we'll see, I wanna stick to what I'm good at for now and learn slowly!

Starting Over in Micro-land

2008-06-19T22:48:00.000-07:00

Well I had about 5$ in my BR when I signed up for the 45 person 1.20$ SNG. I played this mainly because 2nl is almost a crap shoot and my cash game play is bad enough I doubt I'd get anywhere in that sea of fish. Anyways I played this the same way I play a 5$-20$ 45 person SNG, aggressively! I really was fortunate to be catching cards also.

Although I almost learned a costly lesson when I made a play/bluff that usually at higher limits players would respect and fold, but not this micro playing pro lol. I had position on the guy and the pot was raised preflop he raised and I called with 9 10 suited. Flop came and he checked so I pushed to take a nice pot since blinds were high, and then he thought about it and took time. Well I put him on AK before I pushed and that's what made me make the play since I know that AK wouldn't call on a nothing flop.....well he did but it was AQ and I need to hit a 10 or a 9 or a inside straight draw, but I hit the 9 on the river and from there I was in 1st place and grew from there. I took about 60% of the final table and when it came down to HU I had about 43K to his 20K.

At this point I knew for sure I was going to win.......actually I was this sure at the start of the final table....wait actually before the sng even started lol! But I ended up making a sick call with bottom pair against his high cards and I ended up winning 14$ for my efforts and a huge boost to my very low BR!

So now I had 17$ in my BR and my good friend Icemonkey9 logs onto aim and we discuss possibly playing a 3$ 18 man SNG. So we get in one and away we go. OF course we both make it ITM which the top 4 get paid, and I really wasn't surprised we made it because, well first of all we are from CC and 2nd of all Icemonkey is also a solid player cash or mtt wise. Well I was 2nd in chips when it came down to the last 4 but I ended up making a raise in the SB to steal and got called. I hit bottom pair and the inside straight draw so i pushed and was called by 2 pair instantly, no help and I was out in 4th.

icemonkey9 3:03
what the hell did you just do

kingcurtis 3:03
one of the stupidest things ever

icemonkey9 3:04
agreed

kingcurtis 3:04
i could say i thought he was bluffing but thats not good enough

So after that Ice monkey took care of the 3rd place guy and was in 1st but only by about 3K. Then he was all in PF with A 6 against AJ if I am correct, they both hit A but no 6 to save Ice. So he struggled to stay alive and eventually went out in 2nd for about 16$ but still a really nice finish and I am proud we both cashed! So now I am going to do what I used to do for a while and post my BR and a new feature which is a goal for the week or next couple days!

Current BR: $19.00
BR Goal for 6/21/08: $25.00

Big Feild, a Cash, but no Final Table!?

2008-06-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

I really thought I had this one, the whole time I was winning races hitting nut hands and even flopping the nuts. I was 2/2200 in the first 20 min and amazingly, I stayed in the top 15 up untill about the last 40 people. I really did make a bad call with AQ near the end, which crippled me down to about 35K, in which i trippled up to about 110K. Then I got JJ and went all in and was called by 10 10.....YAHTZEE!!!.........no, it ended up being an all heart flop, which 10 10 had a heart and the turn brought a heart which made me throw up, not really but I was sick. Thus sending me off in 28th place for about 4X my buyin. One thing I am proud of is that I made it as far as I did in such a large feild 28/2460 is a very deep finish although it takes a lot out of you when put all that time in and don't make it to the Final Table. Anyways heres the results and I should email this guy and see if he'll give me some of his winnings, the guy that knocked me out won the whole thing for almost 4K$!!

PokerStars Tournament #91350059, No Limit Hold'emBuy-In: $10.00/$1.002460 playersTotal Prize Pool: $24600.00Tournament started - 2008/06/14 - 19:00:00 (ET)Tournament finished - 2008/06/15 - 03:03:10 (ET)
1: noniserb (Kitchener), $3813.00 (15.50%)
2: steel144 (Windang), $2767.50 (11.25%)
3: lusky8 (simpsonville), $1980.30 (8.05%)
4: peachlandbc (Etobicoke), $1353.00 (5.50%)
5: ThaiDam (Muenchen), $1107.00 (4.50%)
6: donnacarmela (catania), $861.00 (3.50%)
7: TheMiltMan (La Junta), $615.00 (2.50%)
8: Blucat192 (Nirvana), $405.90 (1.65%)
9: bluebartnt (Armstrong), $250.92 (1.02%)
10: tmh_money (Archdale), $184.50 (0.75%)
11: tk10009 (natick), $184.50 (0.75%)
12: TMONEY505050 (loveland), $184.50 (0.75%)
13: MOGZZ (Petawawa), $135.30 (0.55%)
14: Dgizzard (San Francisco), $135.30 (0.55%)
15: SebbyGl (Leipzig), $135.30 (0.55%)
16: LLongiManuSS (Hamburg), $86.10 (0.35%)
17: marleyj (Richardson), $86.10 (0.35%)
18: PrairieSk8er (Winnipeg), $86.10 (0.35%)
19: Blitza (Gillingham), $54.12 (0.22%)
20: Northon (Ieper), $54.12 (0.22%)
21: schmuck (rough and ready), $54.12 (0.22%)
22: JMCmoney (Brooklyn Park), $54.12 (0.22%)
23: austinski (Austin), $54.12 (0.22%)
24: cashgamedebo (Sioux Falls), $54.12 (0.22%)
25: Taste0fChaos (City of Evil), $54.12 (0.22%)
26: Nevets19 (St. John's), $54.12 (0.22%)
27: Kin-Chris (Redmond), $54.12 (0.22%)
28: KingCurtis67 (York Haven), $46.74 (0.19%)

KC Back??

2008-06-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

PokerStars Tournament #91618729, No Limit Hold'em
Buy-In: $4.00/$0.40
180 players
Total Prize Pool: $720.00
Tournament started - 2008/06/10 - 20:07:25 (ET)
Tournament finished - 2008/06/11 - 00:21:39 (ET)


1: theostinky31 (xanthi), $216.00 (30%)
2: Nemo3733 (Grafton), $144.00 (20%)
3: wildcard0877 (clinton), $85.68 (11.90%)
4: Dhlads (Edmonton), $57.60 (8%)
5: KingCurtis67 (York Haven), $46.80 (6.50%)
6: jcnkt (Uxbridge), $36.00 (5%)
7: louie777uk (edinburgh), $25.20 (3.50%)
8: bada flav (Schleswig), $18.72 (2.60%)
9: elbernal (Bogota), $12.24 (1.70%)

That is the final table results from last night.  This 180 man sng was easy and I felt strongly about winning it and
felt no other players were better than me. It helped that I was also the chip leader going into the final table,
which I hung around 50k untill the last 5.This is when I woke up with KK and ran into AA thus sending me off.If this didn't happen or if I was on the other end of
this I feel I most def. would have won...

Poker??

2008-06-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

Yea Yea, this is a poker blog right? Why no poker posts, why no updates, or screen shots of big mtt wins? I know it's depressing but I think in the long run it is going to pay off. You may be thinking this post is pointless since I've already announced that I'm taking a break until school's over, but it isn't! This is mainly for me, to remind myself not to deposit, because I can, but to keep focusing on school and finish it out strong. Once it's over I have the summer and no other worries but poker, which with my results isn't really anything to worry about :P.

I think the whole being refreshed and ready to play thing will make me feel better once I get to that point. Poker, after a while, can pull you down, not in life or anything but just in your play. Every time I take a break from poker and then comeback, I kill it, I own and make a good amount of money(at least to me it's a good amount). For example, about 1 year ago I had a stable BR on FT, I played mainly SNGs and MTTs as I do now. I had about 1K and started playing bad BRM. So I cashed out around $600.
So I basically didn't play online after that, until about 2-3 months ago my dad lent me 10$ on FT which I basically played 1, 10$ HU(which I won) and then built it to about a 300$ BR and a 750K ticket in about 10 days. Awesome right, well almost. I actually ended up playing horrible poker in the 750K busting out a little after the first break. One word, Intimidation. I basicaly thought to much about how I was going to play before the game. When all along I should have just played my game, making good reads, and playing solid poker. Anyways I eneded up cashing out again, and not playing until my most recent run at poker(which I don't think I need to explain).

One last thing before I end this post. I haven't always won money online. Yeha I knnow right, lol, but when I first started in highs school, somehow the first site i deposited on was Hollywood Poker, and I was a fish if there ever was one. I maxed out my only credit card for the max credit line of 300$ and slowly paid that back. Which I preceded to do again. Although this $600 loss was a lesson more than anything, not only to get better and learn more to make money, but to know when to stop playing, when to withdraw, and when to not bluff(one of my biggest problems in the past).

Like my new Header?

2008-05-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

Thank IceMonkey9!!! We where discussing my old one and he said he wanted to create one so I said why not! About 1 milla second later he sent me this. Personally I like it and it will stay there until I am finished my master piece lol. Well once again Icemonkey, good stuff imo!

Slowly Working out of Poker

2008-05-27T21:13:00.000-07:00

Well even though I said I was going to take a break until school was over....I didn't. It is hard not to when there's money in my account and I have some extra time just sitting around. Anyways I played some SNG's and did horribly, and I'm not saying I was playing badly, bluffing, calling raises PF with nothing, or anything compared to a donks caliber. I was just getting beat by better hands, through draws mostly......always a draw hitting on me.

So I am slowly working out of poker. Which by tomorrow I could be playing no poker at all.
The only thing I wish I could see right now, is if I kept all the money that I won so far recently as a whole BR now. If I didn't need the money so badly this is what would have happened meaning almost a 1400$ BR and some nice limits to play at comfortably.

Alright well I'm falling asleep while typing this so I'm going to go before you start to see a random line of letters, symbols, and numbers from my fore head hitting the keys due to me being asleep.

-KC

Taking a 3-4 Week Break

2008-05-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

I think after all this poker playing, and winning ;) it is time for me to take a break. Anways it seems I am on some what of a downswing/bad luck session lately and my plan is to stop now and lose as little as possible, and come back refreshed and ready to rebuild a BR.

The thing is about a month and a half ago I deposited 80$ and so far have cashed out close to 1300$ in checks. I am very happy with myself for my dicipline at some times and my over all play and determination. I plan on doing the same thing with this 100$ when I come back. This means following BRM(Bank Roll Management) and yes even dropping extremely low in limits from what I'm used to. Although it is always fun to start over(weird I know) and I know I can prove to you all and myslef that I can do the same thing.

Ok so I'll leave you with two of he last bad beats that sent me out of SNG's and brought me to realize what I should do. Sorry I do not have the HH's for the hands.

20$ SNG 9 Person:
This is with 4 people left. That's right the friggin bubble! All in preflop also!

KC: AK
Them: AJ

Board: J 10 2 3 A

33$ 360 max:
This is about 2 blind levels into it. I was feeling good about this tourney and wanted a big win, seeing first at just under $2K!

KC: K J(raise on Buton)
SB: Calls
BB: Calls

Flop: Ad Qd 10h (Yahtzee!!!)

SB and BB: All in!!! (awesome no work needed)
SB: 4d 3 d (OMG worst position calling with this in 20$ SNG???!?!?)
BB: AJ (Ok not bad)

Turn: who cares it was a diamond......@#*!#IJDNF{!@(#@@#+

I was very mad at this pnt and had to leave thecomputer before I did something stupid......sigh

More than Lady Luck

2008-05-26T02:26:00.000-07:00

Well I didn't feel so well after signing up for $20+2 STT, so instead of quiting I asked my Girlfriend who I've been teaching how to play NLHE to play for me while I slept. Now I know she isn't bad and she has actually cashed in some free rolls, I think even a cardschat free roll since she is a member, but this is by far her best cash ever.

I woke up once while she was still playing and was pleased to see her on the bubble but the she was the low stack. Since I was excited too see her so close to the money I stayed up but she told me to go back to sleep so that she wasn't nervous. So by the time I woke up again she was HU and knocking out the guy!

I am very proud of her for winning at such high limits for her experience and level of play. Maybe I've woken a poker champ! She has a PokerStars and FT account and I'll have to get her to start playing more!

Well if you know the payout structure for STT's you'll know she won me a cool 90$, or 68$ profit!

Horrible Night on Poker Stars

2008-05-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

Well, It could be worse, I guess I've been so used to either winning big or loosing a little. But tonight was about a 70$ downswing to my Bank Roll. The only reason I don't feel completely bad is that I got my money in when I was ahead, which really matters in the long run. There was many tonight but I'll explain the last 2.

KC: KK

Im on the button, and UTG raises and I go over the top and SB and BB call.

SB: 33
BB: QQ
UTG: AA

Ok first off 33 should not even be in this, mainly because he wasn't even short stacked.

Board: 10 3 4 J 2

That's right 33 won!

Anyways I really don't even feel like explaining the second won but I forgot to mention I also cashe dout today since I usually do every Sunday. Only 125$ today though. So I'm down to 300$. I like a challenge and trying to make a bigger BR from what I got though!

PS Orbit Leader Board

2008-05-24T14:21:00.000-07:00

Well I'm going to try and do this for once. In order to place in the low orbit you have to play 20 SNG's to qualify, or play 100 SNG's to place in the high orbit. Well I'm playing in the 20$-49.99$ Division or they call it the Neptune devision. Currently I have 307 points and have played 14 games. First place is at 527 points and 100th place which is the last place that makes it is at 378 and I don't know how it works because 83rd to 100 are all tied with 378.

The qualifying SNG's are the 6-27 person SNG's. I've been only playing the 9 and 18 person SNG's. Meaning that the top 3 in the 9 persons get paid and the top 4 in the 18 persons get paid.

In order to tie for 100th plac i need 75 points. meaning that only 1, 18 man win and 1, 9 man win would put me on the LB. Since First in the 9 mans is 45 points, and 1st in the 18 man is 61 points. There is also other combinations like 2 9 player wins or 1, 18 person win and 1, 2nd place in an 18 person. So basically I'm going for all wins since it's also about making money not the LB for me.

Although as I am typing this I just lost 2 so I am down to 4 games left, but I am doin well in a 18 man. I'll update later tonight on my progress.

First place on the LB in my devision is payed 900$!!!!
Plus places 2-20 also get paid very well! The top ten are also registered for the weekly 50,00$ triple shoot out!

I really think PS is a great site since they have nice promos like this, but it also helps me to play better, so at the same time I'm winning money by placing in SNG's I am also being rewarded for good play!

Beating a Cocky Shark

2008-05-22T22:31:00.000-07:00

The feeling was great to beat this guy HU to end the 9 man, 22$ SNG. In the beggining I beat a guy by hitting a set on the river, basically getting lucky. So this guy(not even the guy I beat) decided to go after me and taunt me. So I looked him up on Shark Scope only to find out that he is a shark and has made about 10K profit in 1 year on PS which is good.

Anyways the game went on and he was saying that I was going to lose and I won't last long. Which I like because then to prrove him wrong I tightened up and played awesome poker(which I most always do ;) lol. Anyways it eventually got down to us HU and it ended in about 3 hands, mainly because I was sitting on 10K to his 4k, but he also just tried bluffing me too much.

I guess the point of this is that I know I can beat some of the best out there and this HU and sng win boosts my confidence.

On another note, I'm only about 28 VPP's away from Silver Status which is nie, and I look forward to the benefits it brings. This is also my first time ever since I always played on FT.

I'm also thinking about, well going to make the solar system leader board for the 22$-50$ orbit. I don't exactly remember the cash reward for these limits and making the lb but it should be nice.

Apollogies

2008-05-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

I guess when I deleted my photos on photobucket they also delete the pics wherever I put them, so I'm going to try and get them back up on my blog. It's only 2 graphs but better than the big photobucket messages lol.

So sorry.

Shark Scope looking even better

2008-05-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

It doesn't even look like a mountain at the end but a straight up and down cliff!!!!

Yet Another Final Table

2008-05-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

Well this final table started off great. It was already at 8 players when we started and the first 4 went quick, mainly because I went on a high PP rampage and knocked out all of them to take the Chip lead. So I was excited when we got down to the last 4. The 4th guy took a while to get rid of becuase he kept getting lucky especially on me, I was ahead every time and somehow his low pair agianst my top pair hit two pair every time, but I got him. So down to three handed and it happens the dreaded Cooler, if you want to call this that. I had AQ otb and raised he reraised and I called. Flop comes 5 9 A. I felt good about it 3 handed and bet 3/4 the pot and he pushe almost 80K when I had about 140K. I called and he showed AK to win the pot with no help for me on the turn or river. After that it was a battle between me and 3rd place guy for the almost 300$ bump to second. I ended up raising/stealing into him and he pushed with 88 which I had odds to call with my A 10. Once again no help and Im out in third for 440$.

Shark Scope Projection

2008-05-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well I am not mad at my stats as of now on PS, I mean I could always do better, anyone would want too, but this graph explains how I'm doing!

Another Final Table, Geez KC

2008-05-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Yep, another final table today in a $4.40 180 person Sng. That's right, I did exactly what I said I was going to do in my last post and move way down in limits, and it worked beautifully. Only risking $4.40 to win $144 and a second place finish was a nice start for my new plan of lower limits and bank roll management.
I can't tell you how much my game in Sng's and Mtt's is improving, for once again I aggressively worked my way to the last 30 and eventually doubling up to become the chip leader by the final table.
Before I talk about the final table I want to note that I actually recorded this final table as one of my recently new projects for the forum and my blog. I will eventually post the link here in a post. It contains some good stuff, plus commentary by none other than KingCurtis himself(Me).
Anyways lets talk about the fun and exciting final table! Actually it was nothing at all like exciting and fun. This was a very tight table, which lasted almost 1 1/2 hours. The whole tournament up to the final table was very soft. For example I would raise in position with AK and get called by A x, we would proceed to hit an A on the flop and I would bet aggresively and eventually we would be all in. My point is that any A was good for them no matter what kicker, and this happened often throughout the Sng. So when the final table started it was pretty much all blind stealing and folding. Some started to take stands and I eventually went from chip leader to 3rd place since I was becoming card dead and not protecting my blinds. Eventually the smaller stacks got taken out, and it stayed 4 handed for a while, the as soon as the 4th person went, quickly went 3rd. But when we go Heads Up I was in for some work, for the other player had about 220K to my measly 60K. The funny thing is HU lasted one hand, obviously leading to the fact that I lost and this is how.

KC: 9 7
Villian: K 7

Flop: 8 9 10
KC: All-in!!!!
Villian: calls!!

Turn: Q

River: Who cares?? lol!

O well, $144 richer!

Moving Down in Limits

2008-05-13T07:21:00.003-07:00

As you can remember I recently made a withdraw of 300$, bringing my current BR down to about 450$. With this bank roll I can play Mtt's and Sng's for 9$, and I can buy in to cash games for exactly $22.50(pretty much 25 nl). These limits sound great and like I said before I can really build my bank roll back up here. But, I've been thinking lately that I might go even lower in limits! I know it sounds crazy but I think it could be effective in sustaining a possible downswing and loss of my bank roll, since I'm on a so called heater right now.

I think 10 nl will be fine for cash games, although I won't go any lower. Plus I am not a persistent cash game player. For Mtt's and Sng's, I'll be playing the 5$ 9 prsn-45 prsns, and don't forget about the 180 prsn $4.40 Sng(My favorite at these limits)

Hopefully this approach will work and I can duck a downswing and get right back to building a nice healthy BR!!

Only 6 Days!!

2008-05-12T14:03:00.001-07:00

Took only 6 days, how nice of Poker Stars. I also sent another today as said in the post below, so hopefully it will be here just as fast!

Another Cash Out

2008-05-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

Ok so I made another cash out of 300$ since i had to wait till the beginning of the week since this is my second cash out by check. I must say as sad as I am to see my Poker BR go down, I will be very happy receiving 2 300$ checks which i made from 80$ a month ago.

My plan is to drop down in limits but I still am happy that the limits are still somewhat high, compared to micro limits. For MTTs and SNGs I can play 10$ buy-ins which is nice, the play isn't so bad, and I can deffinetly rebuild my BR here.

I understand that many may see this as stupid or not smart. But I look at it this way. Do you remember seeing the movie "Rounders"? Well do you remember the guy who was a New York Legend and didn't play for the big wins and gambles, but to pay his bills and feed his children. This is how I look at it. I'd rather grind and pay bills without working then loose it all in a big shot. Although following BRM would not allow this to happen, I still need the money now, but I plan on eventually building my BR to in the thousands range and maybe even 5 digits!

Another Final Table

2008-05-09T07:59:00.001-07:00

That's right another final table, but this time it didn't take so long since it was a 180 man 22$ buy-in sng. I played well waiting for big hands and I did get lucky when I was behind once but that seems to be one of the things that needs to happen while going the distance. Although I wanted to get 1st(who doesn't) I placed 6th for about 180$. So once again my Br is only going one direction.......UP!

I apollogize to my readers for such short postings, but I tend to find my self personally liking short readings and not long drawn out posts.

Starting PS BR: $72
Current BR: $921.33(-300)= $621.33

Doing Better and Better

2008-05-07T11:37:00.000-07:00

Well I just wanted to post for personal reasons so that I could post my Current BR -300 which i cashed out via check, and am happy about!

BTW my FT BR went bye bye

Starting PS BR: $72
Current BR: $744.42(-300) $442.42

3$ Rebuy Final Table

2008-05-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

Wow I didn't expect to get as far as I did but why wouldn't I have hopes of the Final Table. The whole time I played so patiently even at one time I was just about out but stayed patient and pushed with 1010 doubling up against a big stack who called with 22. But as 10 10 saved me there it killed me in the end at the final table. I had 1010 I was short stacked , who wouldn't push, try and steal blinds or, possibly double up. Well K Q called and the flop came nothing, i think A 2 8, turn obv a Q and river obv another Q!

Heres the results! I won close to 530$!!

Not the right way

2008-05-04T22:08:00.000-07:00

Well I am happy to say i played in a 27 person SNG on Poker Stars and got 1st for 200$!!!! Well you may have already figured that that must have been a high buy in and, well it was, which is why i am mad but glad at the same time. I've been so big on playing BRM(bank roll management) and I step out once and actually do well, although I could have lost 20$ which was 1/10 of my BR and thats horrible brm. Anyways I promised my self that I am done, so no more!!!
As for my Fulltilt BR it is going no were with me losing it again down to my last 1.24 i played one last 9 man SNG and I won!!! So tomorrow will be a grind for both sites as always!

Full Tilt Starting BR: $5
Current BR: $4.25

Poker Stars Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $424.78

Almost got it going

2008-05-04T18:38:00.000-07:00

Well I went from 5$ on Full Tilt to 7$ then 13$, and it was looking good, but then i did something stupid and i played a 5$ SNG which was obviously too much for my so called "grinding" strategy. But, I'm not giving up yet and I'm going to try once again. Although this time I am going to grind it to 50$ and eventually keep grinding the 50$ to a new Bank roll goal.

Full Tilt Starting BR: $5.50
Current BR: N/A

Poker Stars Starting BR: 72$
Current BR: N/A

$5 to $50 in a month

2008-05-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

Well I'm officially going to try and juggle two Bank rolls. I am starting a BR of...... drum roll please..........5$!!!!! I know, I know high roller right? Well I was thinking to just go for it big and blow the 5$ in one game, but then I decided that I want to grind this 5$ in to something. So for now its 1.25 sngs and lets hope don't go on a 5 game losing streak right away lol. So for now I am also going to add my Full Tilt roll below all my posts, including my Poker Stars roll.

Starting PS BR: $72
Current BR: $245.66

Starting FT BR: $5
Current: $5

No Discipline

2008-05-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Well I have not been practicing what I have been preaching and have hit another loss to my BR. I messed up mainly by playing 10$ HU's in which i hit about a 5 game losing streak. Although I have caught myself and have disciplined myself to not play out of my BR before I lose it all. It's actually quite funny that I have an application on my computer called stickies, which look like stickies on your background. So on one that I leave up I made some key reminders and tips. This is what it reads:

1. Be Patient- Breaking even or making 1% of your BR is good(better than loosing) you don't always have to win now, or make money now, stay on the grind.

2. Keep practicing BRM, Don't bust, remember free rolls?<<<<<<never again

3. Remember your BR was 72$ when you started two weeks ago, $200 and above is still good, don't be impatient and chase bigger goals.

4. Bluffing- Pick your spots, don't bluff every time they seem to appear week, some may be using the trap technique.

I think that a small list like this helps, so I suggest you start one, if you don't have a Mac, use word or note pad.

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $210.34

Slight Downswing

2008-04-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

Well its here and I'm glad its not horribly bad but in two days I have been on about a $50 downswing. This was about 1/6 of my BR which is kind of scary, so since I fell so far I'm going to move down in limits, I have been playing my limits but i just wanna take my time in getting back up to $300+. I have seen many others move down before they get hit too hard and it works very well.
On another note I have been reading a book called "Zen and the art of poker", which I said I would talk about in one of my previous blog postings. The book so far is very good reading for a player like me. It calms me down, makes me want to be in a Zen like state. I know it sounds kind of weird but it works. When I went on the downswing I could have easily chased those losses and went on a crazy luck streak or most commonly a bad down streak possibly losing my BR. But instead I closed my laptop, sat sown on the couch and started reading. I highly suggest doing this, even if it's something other than a book(drawing, writing, television, outside activity).

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $253.67

UP and UP

2008-04-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Well I'm still moving up and its starting to look more and more like a rush, you could call it that but I think it is due to a lot of time at the tables, Iv'e been hitting the 5$ SNG's and winning, I would say about 70% of my games ITM(in the money) which is good enough for me. I have been playing cash games on the side, it helps me to not get bored and play loosley in my SNG's, and it has been helping in two ways with me winning SNG's and winning a little on the side in the cash game. I am pleased with my results and increasing my BR(bank roll) by almost $230 in 2 and 1/2 weeks. I am going to slow down these next couple weeks mainly by not playing so much and only playing SNG's and I'll always be playing the CardsChat events on PokerStars.

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $299.11

Final Table Day

2008-04-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

Well After a small decline in my BR i played one last 180 person $4.40 sng. I did well the whole time calling bluffs, winning coinflips, and dominating a lot I held chipleader for about 30 mins. I made it to the final table and pretty much let the bigstacks take care of things since i was in 6th place going in to the final table, and they did eventually getting down to 4 handed.....
Then after about 45 minutes of me doubling up then blinding down, I got busted when I made a move to steal and got called by A 2...I had K 8, which i like very much 2 live cards and an over! The flop came nothing but i had an inside plus my 2 live cards, then 2 blanks came sending me away in 4th and almost $60.

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $241.06

Another wonderful day of Poker

2008-04-26T00:13:00.000-07:00

Well once again my BR has increased by a good percentage almost 19% which is about 36$ !!
I did well by winning a 1.10$ 18 person sng and a 5.50$ 18 person sng both. which was impressive. Anyways I plan on possibly trying to finish a block of the BOP or starting a new one in the 1.10$ sngs.
I also want to appologize to any readers for my short and sweet postings. For it is not more than a journal of my winnings but it can also be used as incouragement to not go exceedingly far out of brm and loose it all. Good Luck and I'll see all you on the tables tommorow!

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $223.06

BR Supercharge

2008-04-24T18:14:00.000-07:00

Well today was a great day in poker for me, although some may think my winnings were small i think they were huge compared to my BR. From playing and winning in cash games to taking down some nice sngs, i have been able to increase my BR by a little less than 40% and thats huge!
I would have added even more but did not cash in the CC buy-in event which has an added 100$ and is nice since the buy-in is small and if you cash you're getting a nice return, but i got knocked out and was basically card dead the whole time.

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $181.67

$3 Rebuy on Stars

2008-04-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

Well I did very well starting off with Quads and multiple double ups through AA, but eventually the blinds got higher and i just couldnt do anything. The big blow was my QQ running into AA and losing obv lol. But I did make it in the money and now my BR is getting larger. I like this tourney and plan on playing and cashing in this thing again. Watch out Final Table here I come!

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $136.68

Good Day of Cash Games

2008-04-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

Well this morning i had some time to multi table some cash games, and it worked out well, 5 tables at 5$ each, .02/.05 cent no-limit 9 handed. I barely lost any pots playing only premium hands and I am pleased with the almost 12$ increase to my BR, because 12$ is a or was about 10% of an increase to my BR which is huge in one session.

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $125.67

Even Day, Not much poker though

2008-04-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

Well I didnt play that much poker but when i did it seemed to be unlucky, well it was. I played in two mtts and both i was knocked out when i was ahead preflop and eventually got sucked out on. Example: AK VS AQ obv i had AK and we were all in preflop for about a 6k pot and a good one to win for me to actually make it deep. Of course a Q hit on the flop and no help on the turn or river to save me. The second one was AA VS 55, again all in preflop and the flop came all spades including the 5 of spades eventually sending me on my way and out.
But these things happen and good players learn to deal with these unlucky times.
I'm just going to keep my head up and look forward to tommorow and the micro sng grind, lol.

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $113.47

Why didnt' I use BRM before?

2008-04-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

Wow lately I really appreciate Bank Roll Management and cannot stress how important it is in sustaining a Bank roll. So far just by playing in my limits, mainly 1$ sngs, mtts, and 5$nl, I'm doing fairly well with slight downswings, but guess what, by having BRM my BR could take the hits, and now I have increased my starting BR by nearly 80%, which I personally am happy with.
OK, enough with BRM. I recently bought two poker books and will be reading them soon. I bought "Kill Phil" and "ZEN and the art of poker". I will update somewhat of a critique on both and my opinion and a possble suggestion to buy the books.

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $120.12

Good Day but not a Good 100k

2008-04-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

Well i didn't do well in the 100k, getting knocked out by hitting a set and being beat by a higher set isnt always fun. But other than that i have increased my BR by 15$! Im am happy with my play and good brm dicipline. So cheers to a new week and good brm!

Starting BR: $72
Current BR: $110.28

Doing well! Here I come 100K

2008-04-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

Well so far I did well today, about 20 points away from the top 100 lb on PS's BOP(battle of the Planets), my BR is around the same but i won a sattelite in to the Sunday 100K! It was an amazing story as I came back from 245 chips on the bubble to win a seat , it was amazing. Anyways I am going to get some sleep and rest for the long 100K tommorow 22500 max entrants and 3k starting chips....whew!

Starting PS BR: $72
Current BR: $95.28

On my way to 100$

2008-04-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Well i did pretty well today while playing sng's for the BOP on Stars. Out of 7 sngs, I got 1st 3 times, 2nd once, and 3 once, the two others i busted before the money, but im very happy with my play. I have 13 more sng's to play to fill my 20 game block, which means multitabling tommmorow until midnight to make it, i can almost gaurantee a top 100 finish!

Starting BR: 72$
KC Current BR: $96.06

Back in the saddle

2008-04-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

Well its time to grind and this time my bank roll is on Poker Stars. I basically plan on playing strictly Sng's and Mtt's, and following correct bank roll management. I am also planing on playing in the Battle of the Planets promo on Poker Stars as well. I am off to a good start since i won my first 18 player sng of the night which will surely help my first block in the promotion. Well wish me luck back to real money!

From now on everynight i will be posting my BR for personal purposes to help me out, so here is my first one, after paying 2 people back and depositing 80$......

KC BR: 72.00$