For a weekend that I was not going to play much poker at all I ended up playing a hell of a lot of poker, about 2 hours Saturday and 4 hours Sunday. Made some massive in-roads into clearing the bonus at InterPoker multi-tabling two .50/1 and one 1/2 table LHE and finishing up which is nice - largely thanks to my J Quads on the 1/2 Limit and being raised constantly, nice stuff. I would have had a nice screen shot to show you, but was to busy yelling "Them's quads bithces"

I should clear the bonus easily this week and then off to Will Hill to bonus up there also. I'm following ScurvyDog's Poker Bonus Strategy Guide to boost the bankroll. Stats have been updated for those that are interested, still down for the month but a massive improvement after my $100.00 Tilt when initially starting the bonus chase playing 1/2 NLHE at Interpoker. If I take that Tilt out I'd be up $56 over the last 5 days of play which is about where I want to be, just above break-even (well lets be honest, I'd love to be pulling down a tone of $$$) while clearing the bonus requirements.

The other news is that last night (Sunday) I met up with a few mates one of whom is back in town visiting from London, he moved there a few years back working for Macquarie Bank and being the degenerates that we are after to many beers down at the Quay ended up in the casino. This would be about my 3rd time in casino and includes when I was 13 in the ' kids play area' when we visited Macau, so not much experience on the B&M front. The others threw a lot of bucks at roulette, I couldn't see the point myself, watching a little ball roll around hoping it hits your number, so went and looked at some blackjack. Now I suck at blackjack and quickly lost about $50. So I up'ed and decided to find some Hold ‘em might as well give it a shot. At Star City they have about 12 tables with 5/10 limit being my choice. I put my name down and about 30 minutes later was sitting down listening to bad beat stories and everyone's strategy on how they will make millions. I pretty much just shut up and played. First hand was KhJh and called, flopped the Jc and bet $5 and was called by everyone. Bet $10 and had one caller, turn as a 6h I was one of my flush draw and had top card, bet $10 and was called, they had pocket 66. So my first live hand for money was an expensive experience.

Threw in my next 6-8 hands before coming across QQ and raised pre-flop and have to entire table call. Righto that is interesting...flop is a bad Kc8d7h , someone has to have another K. I was in the CO and all checked around to me, bet $5, 4 callers, and the turn is a Ks, uh-oh. Bet $10, 1 caller and the river is a 4s. Right has to have a K, I am out of here is he bets. Checks, I bet $10..he calls with AhJc and I my first stack of chips pushed my way...lovely. I could not believe that everyone called my pre-flop raise and they people stayed in the game when the obviously had nothing. I sat back and observed the table for the next few hands and pretty much everyone limped 80% of the hands they played. In all I sat there for about an hour before finishing up $140 odd which I was stocked at. I went and found my mates who were well up playing Blackjack. I pulled up a seat and played until the dealer change and we went home finishing up about $30. A very enjoyable night, the only issue - 9am dentist appointment - ouch!

In terms of play, very straight forward and one issue is that I cannot for the life of me see a straight, this is a basic part of the game but I struggle sometimes thinking about the 'possibilities' that others could have. This mainly happens when I am holding two pair and think I am home, only for the chips to be pushed to someone else. A good aspect though is I am more patient, on one table of .5/1 I went from my $25 buy in down to $1.46 and grinded it back to $26.08 it was good to dig in and get a result. What I need to do though is stop those leaks so that the money from $1.46 - $26.08 is profit, not recovery.

So - many things happening at the moment. No play tonight as I am heading down to the Northern Beaches to see my parents. Tomorrow could be iffy as well, may be catching up with the mate from London, may give it a miss to given last nights efforts.

¶ Monday, January 16, 2006