Holiday Break (12/28/2011)

I've been taking a bit of break, enjoying the holidays with family and friends. 

I busted my ass for most of December and finished down, which was tough to swallow.  Instead of breaking early for Christmas I played until Christmas Eve.  During the last 3 nights I played in a casino in a different state.  During the 3 nights I pretty much recovered my December loss, so break even right now.

I haven't decided if I'm going to take a vacation for NYE, or stay around AC, go out two nights, and resume grinding.  I feel like I need a break.  My motivation really isn't as strong at this time.  I thought taking off over 5 nights would help, but it hasn't particularly. 

Keeping my confidence level high is important right now.  It's on to the second year as a pro.  The first year wasn't amazing, but in a way I "did it".  I made enough profit to cover all my living expenses and added to my bankroll.  I also adapted and survived despite some pretty horrific obstacles (black Friday, downswings, girl, etc).

I really do have a lot to be proud of, but I'm not.  I'll just never be satisfied until I at least get a bankroll together to make at push at 5/10.  Unless online comes back in some form, thats a different story.  I'm not sure exactly what my problem is right now, maybe just in a bad mood.  Maybe I just need to run good.  Maybe I just need a change of pace....

-bag 

Brutal Stretch (12/15/2011)

Right now I'm a professional poker player who can't win money playing poker.  Doesn't seem to matter what I do.

I tried mixing it up today and started play earlier.  I ended up playing 9.5 hours to lose -$325.  I was up until the last hand where I lost a 1.2k pot with a top set of jacks against a flopped flush. 

FLOP Jc 5c 3c

I lead 65 into 100, 5 way.  A bad drunk casual player then made it 165 total.  After that I decided to shove over the top.  He instantly called with 9c Tc, of course it held up.

I can't really beat myself up over a hand like that.  Yeah it sucks getting it in bad, but folding is a disaster if I'm even good 10% of the time on the flop.  The guy had a timer over his head, I just don't see how I could get away from that.  I really did think he had a flush, but it's about a range of hands.  I did think he was capable of making that play with Ac x a percentage of the time, or even a lower set.  The times he shows up with Ac,x or a lower set just make folding pretty impossible for 100BBs.  I mean I'm not a fucking magician here, ok ship it in, good job you win.  Congrats I got my money in bad on a fucking mega cooler.

I've started off down -$230 in 16.5 hours this week.  The problem is I've lost the three previous weeks.  Down around 3 buy-ins on the month.  I've been through worse stretches before, I have the ability to turn things around.  I need to keep fighting and focus on one session at a time here.  Yeah my life is not very fun right now.

-bag

Grinding Hard (12/6/2011)

I will be grinding hard until the holidays.  I expect to put in 100 hours from now until Christmas break.  I finished November over 4k+ which isn't a terrible result.

The past two weeks haven't been great, but I have time.  I started this week up +$500 so an encouraging start.

I'm also trying to cut back on going out until the holidays.  Maybe one night per week.

Not much to say right now, I'll look to post some results soon.

-bag