$1 to $1000 on Poker Stars

Sorry I haven’t updated in a while, but I usually update the blog at work and I was at an offsite training last week.  Not much happened while I was gone, I played a few tournaments, some NL tables, but mostly SHL.  I’m starting to realize how long this is going to take me, but I’m not getting discouraged.

Recent Summary:

+$2.07 0.02/0.05 NL
+$23.20 0.25/0.50 SHL

-$3.60 $1 45-SNG:  DNP:  3
-$0.30 $1 45-TSNG:  6th:  1, DNP:  2

Overall Summary:

Starting BR: $1.51
Current BR: $137.76

+$39.31 0.01/0.02 NL
+$7.30 0.02/0.04 L
+$39.85 0.02/0.05 NL
+$4.94 0.04/0.08 SHL
+$13.13 0.05/0.10 L
+$6.80 0.10/0.20 L
-$10.83 0.10/0.20 SHL
+$27.93 0.25/0.50 L
+$66.35 0.25/0.50 SHL

+$11.70 $1 SNG (25% ROI): 1st: 7 , 2nd: 4 , 3rd: 9 , DNP: 19
-$4.60 $2 HU SNG (-16% ROI): 1st: 6, 2nd: 7
+$0.60 $3 TSNG (0% ROI): 1st: 9, 2nd: 11, 3rd: 7, DNP: 54
-$80.90 $6 TSNG (-25% ROI): 1st: 4, 2nd: 4, 3rd: 6, DNP: 35

+$3.00 $1 18-SNG (23% ROI): 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd: 1, DNP: 8
+$8.60 $1 45-SNG (33% ROI): 1st: 2, 5th: 1, 6th: 1, DNP: 18
+$5.80 $1 45-TSNG (16% ROI): 2nd: 1, 3rd: 1, 4th: 1, 5th: 4, 6th: 1, DNP: 24
-$6.75 $1.50 18-TSNG (-14% ROI): 1st: 2, 2nd: 2, 4th: 1, DNP: 22

+$3.99 $0.50 MTT (114% ROI): Placed: 4 (+$1.08, +$1.80, +$1.55, +$1.06), DNP: 3
+$0.03 $1 MTT (0% ROI): Placed: 3 (+$2.26, +$10.31, +$2.86), DNP: 14

So things have been very up and down for me lately.  A lot of river beats at SHL and big hands running into bigger hands at NL.  I know that things will turn back around and keeping track of everything like I am just reiterates the importance of bankroll management. 

Recent Summary:

-$8.60 0.02/0.05 NL
-$8.50 0.25/0.50 SHL

Overall Summary:

Starting BR: $1.51
Current BR: $116.39

Didn’t play much over the weekend because I played at the local casinos.  It was still rather profitable for how much I played. 

Weekend Summary:

-$1.27 0.02/0.05 NL
+$23.15 0.25/0.50 SHL

Overall Summary:

Starting BR: $1.51
Current BR: $133.49

+$39.31 0.01/0.02 NL
+$7.30 0.02/0.04 L
+$46.38 0.02/0.05 NL
+$4.94 0.04/0.08 SHL
+$13.13 0.05/0.10 L
+$6.80 0.10/0.20 L
-$10.83 0.10/0.20 SHL
+$27.93 0.25/0.50 L
+$51.65 0.25/0.50 SHL

+$11.70 $1 SNG (25% ROI): 1st: 7 , 2nd: 4 , 3rd: 9 , DNP: 19
-$4.60 $2 HU SNG (-16% ROI): 1st: 6, 2nd: 7
+$0.60 $3 TSNG (0% ROI): 1st: 9, 2nd: 11, 3rd: 7, DNP: 54
-$80.90 $6 TSNG (-25% ROI): 1st: 4, 2nd: 4, 3rd: 6, DNP: 35

+$3.00 $1 18-SNG (23% ROI): 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd: 1, DNP: 8
+$12.20 $1 45-SNG (54% ROI): 1st: 2, 5th: 1, 6th: 1, DNP: 15
+$6.10 $1 45-TSNG (19% ROI): 2nd: 1, 3rd: 1, 4th: 1, 5th: 4, DNP: 22
-$6.75 $1.50 18-TSNG (-14% ROI): 1st: 2, 2nd: 2, 4th: 1, DNP: 22

+$3.99 $0.50 MTT (114% ROI): Placed: 4 (+$1.08, +$1.80, +$1.55, +$1.06), DNP: 3
+$0.03 $1 MTT (0% ROI): Placed: 3 (+$2.26, +$10.31, +$2.86), DNP: 14

So I’ve been slapped around at the SHL tables recently.  A lot of river beats, but its part of the game. 

Recent Summary:

-$1.62 0.02/0.05 NL
-$29.55 0.25/0.50 SHL

Overall Summary:

Starting BR: $1.51
Current BR: $111.61

 

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve historically been a better tournament player and have spewed tournament winnings playing cash games.  Well, now it’s the other way around and it’s something that is taking a little getting used to.  This may be due to the fact that I normally am not playing at this low of a level in either.   

I’m still stuck at Step 1 and now don’t have enough FPPs to buy in, so it looks like I’ll be on a break for a while.  The fact that the first 3 or 4 step levels are turbo makes it a little more difficult if you don’t catch cards early.  Especially steps 1 and 2 where no one folds.    

Recent Summary:

-$0.42 0.02/0.05 NL
+$12.30 0.25/0.50 SHL

-$2.40 $1 45-SNG:  DNP:  2
-$3.30 $1 45-TSNG:  DNP:  3

Overall Summary

Starting BR: $1.51
Current BR: $142.78

The weekend started out great playing SHL and I got my bankroll up around $160.  Then I decided to play a few tournaments, and everything went downhill.  I’m back to Step 1 in the WSOP Steps because my KK lost to AJ all in pre-flop.  Of course the Joker Stars Ace came on the flop.  I’m playing tournaments that are within my bankroll, but it’s discouraging to build up the roll with cash games and then see it dwindle away to the donks at the micro SNGs.  I know that variance will come around, but I’m going to hold out on the $3 TSNGs until I get back up to about $150.

Weekend Summary:

-$0.39 0.02/0.05 NL
+$30.85 0.25/0.50 SHL

-$11.40 $3 TSNG:  2nd:  1, DNP:  5

-$4.80 $1 45-SNG:  DNP:  4

-$1.10 $1 MTT:  DNP:  1

Overall Summary:

Starting BR: $1.51
Current BR: $136.60

+$39.31 0.01/0.02 NL
+$7.30 0.02/0.04 L
+$49.69 0.02/0.05 NL
+$4.94 0.04/0.08 SHL
+$13.13 0.05/0.10 L
+$6.80 0.10/0.20 L
-$10.83 0.10/0.20 SHL
+$27.93 0.25/0.50 L
+$45.75 0.25/0.50 SHL

+$11.70 $1 SNG (25% ROI): 1st: 7 , 2nd: 4 , 3rd: 9 , DNP: 19
-$4.60 $2 HU SNG (-16% ROI): 1st: 6, 2nd: 7
+$0.60 $3 TSNG (0% ROI): 1st: 9, 2nd: 11, 3rd: 7, DNP: 54
-$80.90 $6 TSNG (-25% ROI): 1st: 4, 2nd: 4, 3rd: 6, DNP: 35

+$3.00 $1 18-SNG (23% ROI): 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd: 1, DNP: 8
+$14.60 $1 45-SNG (72% ROI): 1st: 2, 5th: 1, 6th: 1, DNP: 13
+$9.40 $1 45-TSNG (33% ROI): 2nd: 1, 3rd: 1, 4th: 1, 5th: 4, DNP: 19
-$6.75 $1.50 18-TSNG (-14% ROI): 1st: 2, 2nd: 2, 4th: 1, DNP: 22

+$3.99 $0.50 MTT (114% ROI): Placed: 4 (+$1.08, +$1.80, +$1.55, +$1.06), DNP: 3
+$0.03 $1 MTT (0% ROI): Placed: 3 (+$2.26, +$10.31, +$2.86), DNP: 14

As many of you know, Stars recently started spreading SNG Step Tournaments for the WSOP ME.  You can get into Step1 for 500 FPPs or $7.  Since the $7 tournaments are outside of my bankroll, I decided to use my FPPs to try this out.  Step 1 is very easy.  These are the biggest donkaments that you have ever seen.  I have played in 4 of them, won 2 Step 2s, a Step 1, and didn’t place in one.  You can mostly fold your way to the top 3 and watch as the rest of the table battles it out.  I’ve never seen a looser game in my life.  Step 2, on the other hand, was one of the tighest tournaments I’ve ever been in.  I’ve only played 1 of my 2 so far, and tried to make sure I was in the top 5 in order to at least get a Step 1 buyin back.  Well I guess everyone else had the same motive because by the time the blinds got to 50/100, there were still 9 players left and we all had about the same amount of chips.  So it became an all-in fest and I ended up going out 6th.  I didn’t expect such a drastic swing from Step 1 to Step 2, so I think I’m going to open it up a little bit this time around.  If I do run out of FPPs, I guess that I will have to wait until I am rolled for the $7 SNGs.

Back to the challenge.  After my good run at 0.25/0.50 SHL, I decided to continue to mix this in.  The only problem with this game at this level on Stars is that there seems to always be a 2 or 3 person waitlist.  So I will play NL while on the waitlist.  Had an off day at the SHL tables and a tough run at the NL tables mainly because my AA was cracked by KJ on a flop of JJ4.  I was also able to play some SNG MTTs last night, but variance caught up to me and I took some bad beats.

Yesterday’s Summary:

-$11.22 0.02/0.05 NL
-$0.25 0.25/0.50 SHL

-$1.20 $1 45-SNG:  DNP:  1
+$2.60 $1 45-TSNG:  3rd:  1, DNP:  3
-$1.75 $1.50 18-TSNG:  DNP:  1

Overall Summary:

Starting BR: $1.51
Current BR: $123.44

Haven’t had much time for tournaments lately, so I’ve been playing cash games.  The NL tables have been pretty good to me and I also decided to mix in some SHL yesterday:

+$17.66 0.02/0.05 NL
+$13.00 0.25/0.50 SHL

Overall Summary:

Starting BR: $1.51
Current BR: $135.26

Was out in Vegas last week for my wife’s birthday, so I didn’t get to play too much poker but was able to play some tournaments.  I played 4 tournaments and placed in 3 of them:

1st out of 24 ($70 buyin at Caesars)
2nd out of 44 ($70 buyin at Caesars)
3rd out of 41 ($60 buyin at Planet Hollywood)
DNP ($120 buyin at Caesars)

The play out there is generally awful, with a few good players mixed in randomly.  Caesars has the best structure for the under $100 buyin tournaments and I heard that the Venetian has really good structure for over $100 tournaments, but I didn’t have a chance to play there (even though I saw their poker room and it is really nice).  I can’t wait to go back, maybe later this year.

Made a little progress at home on the challenge, here is a summary:

+$9.71 0.01/0.02 NL
+$0.62 0.02/0.05 NL
+$4.95 0.25/0.50 L
-$3.60 $1 18-SNG:  DNP: 3
+$2.20 $1 45-SNG:  5th:  1, 6th:  1, DNP: 2
+$3.10 $1 45-TSNG:  4th:  1, 5th:  2, DNP: 6
-$15.45 $1.50 18-TSNG:  2nd:  1, 4th:  1, DNP: 13

Overall Summary:

Starting BR: $1.51
Current BR: $104.60

+$39.31 0.01/0.02 NL
+$7.30 0.02/0.04 L
+$43.64 0.02/0.05 NL
+$4.94 0.04/0.08 SHL
+$13.13 0.05/0.10 L
+$6.80 0.10/0.20 L
-$10.83 0.10/0.20 SHL
+$27.93 0.25/0.50 L
+$2.15 0.25/0.50 SHL

+$11.70 $1 SNG (25% ROI): 1st: 7 , 2nd: 4 , 3rd: 9 , DNP: 19
-$4.60 $2 HU SNG (-16% ROI): 1st: 6, 2nd: 7
+$12.00 $3 TSNG (5% ROI): 1st: 9, 2nd: 10, 3rd: 7, DNP: 49
-$80.90 $6 TSNG (-25% ROI): 1st: 4, 2nd: 4, 3rd: 6, DNP: 35

+$3.00 $1 18-SNG (23% ROI): 1st: 1, 2nd: 1, 3rd: 1, DNP: 8
+$20.60 $1 45-SNG (143% ROI): 1st: 2, 5th: 1, 6th: 1, DNP: 8
+$6.80 $1 45-TSNG (28% ROI): 2nd: 1, 4th: 1, 5th: 4, DNP: 16
-$5.00 $1.50 18-TSNG (-11% ROI): 1st: 2, 2nd: 2, 4th: 1, DNP: 21

+$3.99 $0.50 MTT (114% ROI): Placed: 4 (+$1.08, +$1.80, +$1.55, +$1.06), DNP: 3
+$1.13 $1 MTT (6% ROI): Placed: 3 (+$2.26, +$10.31, +$2.86), DNP: 13