Win some, loose some, win some …. You get the idea. After a reasonably successful first week that ended on Sunday night with BR at about $138 I went into the tank on Monday. It was a train wreck that in hindsight I suppose was just waiting to happen. Beings my BR is so small I’ve been playing the 0.15/0.30 games at Party to get comfortable and some experience under my belt. Having had some success I figure it was time to ‘move up’. A couple of things contributed to my decision, first and probably foremost was the success I had at the lower limit games (likely my down fall!!), but also the need to play in the higher games when I move to the next step in the process of building my BR.

So Monday, I decide to setup at the 0.25/0.50 game (which by the way falls nicely in line with my current BR) and wow, what a night. I get just killed and lose almost all my previous winnings (all but $1). Granted I got some big hands cracked including 4 boats, 2 trips, AA, KK, and QQ, but I just played some bad poker too. There seemed to be much more preflop raising and (according to my judgment) more people chasing with nothing – meaning bad poker! I don’t know, but to me it was really different then the 0.215/0.30 game which surprised me quite a bit.

After feeling beaten I got Tuesday thinking it had to be just one of those nights and that is why managing your BR is sooooo important. I was able to sustain losing and come back for another night without too much worry. So, Tuesday night I figure I need to get back on the ‘horse’ and give it another go. Before starting I decide that I’m going to consciously play a bit tighter and not chase too many hands. I setup myself up at 2 0.25/0.50 tables (by the way, no way I’m playing anymore without at least 2 tables on the go!!!) and after a few early misses I hit a couple of good hands and I’m up some money. Once I was up I managed to keep it there and end the night +$22. So, BR is getting back on track at $123.

I’ve decided that I’m going to play a few more days – maybe until the end of the week at Party’s 0.25/0.50 game before moving on. The next step in the process with either be Paradise Poker (getting a 25% sign-up bonus) or Absolute (getting a 100% sign-up bonus). I’m only thinking about this because ideally I want to get as big a BR as I can before going to Absolute – thus getting a bigger bonus.

In closing some other general thoughts …

• As much fun as this is, playing poker, I think I may need to take a day off soon!!! I’ve played everyday since I got my free bankroll – the problem is I think I’m addicted. I’ll likely play again tonight but maybe I’ll take a night off before the end of the week (we’ll see!!!)
• Another explanation for what happened during my losing session the other night, I got bored at the tables and started playing too many hands. Even though I’m comfortable playing 2 tables at once, that still isn’t enough to keep me ‘busy’. So, I either start playing more tables (which I don’t think I’m ready for on a regular basis) or I find something else to do while play.
• What is that ‘something else to do while playing’, read more about poker!!! I have been doing lots of reading over the last six or eight months about poker but have recently stumbled across what I think may be the best place to learn about poker. I know, I’m slow and everybody probably knows this already, but the poker forums have really caught my interest lately. I’ve mostly been reading the forums at http://www.twoplustwo.com/, but they are everywhere – all the poker sites have them and I’m sure they are equally as good. Some good questions followed by some great discussions – I hope to start posting some of my entry level questions there soon (just need to build up the nerve to ask my simple basic questions!!!)

I think that’s it for now … back at it tonight likely and see if my good run can continue.

Until next time, AA up