Poker

Almost 2 years late, but I will start updating this now. I'm finally going to keep proper records, so I'll update them on here. If anyone doesn't know me, here is a little bit about my poker playing history.

I first got into poker about 5 years ago. I stumbled across the Poker Million on Sky Sports, and watched a few episodes before stumbling across an online Poker site (Poker Room was the one). I started by playing on there with play money, and played in the odd freeroll. I enjoyed it, but when I won a few dollars in the freeroll, it wasn't usually long before I'd lost the money. For then next 12-18 months, I watched on TV, and found more and more poker sites out there. I still only played freerolls, but I got to the stage where I started winning more, and being more consistant. As the poker boom was taking off, it was also getting increasingly popular on a betting site I use (www.punterslounge.com). I started reading more and more on there, and the more I read the more I played, and the more I played the better I was getting. About 3 years ago, I started playing more seriously. I would say at this point I was a bit above the average player, but certainly not a constantly winning one. I kept winning a bit, losing a bit, until about 18 months ago when I feel my game got to the next level. Since then I've won 2 trips to Vegas for the WSOP. The 1st was through Paddy Power, and was a seat in a Mega-Satellite to the Main Event. Last year I won a seat to the main event through Poker Stars, and managed to get to Day 2. My biggest tournament cash was last March, when I came 2nd in the Mansion $100k Guaranteed tournament for $15,100. I estimate that last year I won approximately $30k, and I'm looking at topping that this year. It will be hard, but a couple of big tournament placings at some point will hopefully get the chunk of it. My other aims this year are to once again play in the WSOP Main Event, and hopefully cash this year! I'd like to improve my cash game, as that is definatly my weak area at the moment.

So far this year I haven't played too much. On 1st Jan, I broke even getting my 25 raked hands for the Virgin V Roll. In that, I managed to come 1st for 7,500 V Points, which is worth £75.

On the 2nd, I played in the Punters Lounge Online Poker Series (PLOPS) Heads Up Satellite (5.50 Euros), which had 12 runners. This was the 4th time I've tried in this, and this would be the 3rd time I've come 2nd, losing in the final heads up match. I did get 5 Euro's back for this! I also played in the $1.10 buy in Mansion $20,080 added tournament. It had over 3,000 runners, and I lasted a while, but didn't get close to the money.

Last night I played in the PLOPS Main Even Satellite (11 Euro's). I've already won my seat in this, so was just playing for the cash. With 12 runners, I came 6th. I enjoy these tournaments, as the standard of player your up against is higher than normal. Also on Virgin, I played 5 x 5.50 Euro buy in Heads Up matches. I won the first 4, then lost the last one. I definalty will be playing more of these this year, as I think I can win good money at them. The other tournament I played in was on Blue Square, which was a $5.50 satellite to a $109 GUKPT satellite. I was a little unlucky in this, and had to rebuy once, and have 1 add on. I came 13th out of 28. Both times that I lost my chips, I was in with the best of it. I don't remember exact hands, but I will try to post hand history's to big hands in the future.

Tonight I will probably play a couple of small buy in tournaments, and maybe play a few Heads Up too. Tomorrow night I will probably go to the local Riley's, and play in their £10 buy in tournament. It has about 30 runners, and most of the players there are of a decent standard, and I always seem to do well (2 1st's and a 2nd in my last 3!) Sunday is my main poker day, so I will be playing plenty that day.

This'll be my Poker blog. When I can be bothered (which knowing me won't be as often as it should) i'll update this with how much i've been losing!