Pay off my Mortgage Challenge

2007-05-06T16:41:00.001-07:00

Thought id do another entry as im not bothering going to bed tonight so I have plenty time on my hands , no point with sleeping as I have to be up for work in 3 hours so id rather stay up and I didn’t get up until 3pm today as I stayed up to watch the boxing.
I played 75k gtd. On pacific tonight and got in the top 30 bit disappointed not to make ft but blinds were getting big and I had to start making a move it was folded round to me on button and I pushed with K 4 and the SB called with JJ and that was me gone, so feeling a bit sick but $450 win so its not too bad currently playing a bit of cash and playing second chance Sunday on poker stars but don’t think ill be in this much longer im down to 800 chips so im looking for a hand to stick my chips in with.
Hoping to get decent few hours in at the tables this week due to not playing much lately but not sure if ill be playing tomorrow ill probably be straight to bed after work so should be fresh and ready for a game on Tuesday.

2007-05-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

Hi anyone reading this, as you can see its been a couple of weeks since I updated my blog due to a few pc problems, my old laptop has been playing up and therefore ive been unable to play much poker so last week I bought a new 1 that arrived and I though great switch this on and im ready to go, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case due to windows vista been installed on it I had lots of compatibility problems, I have managed to get all this sorted out now so im ready to restart the challenge.
I have played little bits of poker here and there but haven’t got any real results to report as ive just been managing an hour here and there im about $2k up , ive also withdrawn $3000 from my account to pay for new laptop and to get my car through it’s MOT, so below is my new balance and the challenge has restarted, im playing 75k gtd. On pacific tonight and will probably play a little cash and maybe a few STT’s.
I have also decided updating my blog daily is not possible due to working full time then playing poker until midnight or later most nights, so I will be updating once a week unless I have anything to report.

new start balance after withdrawl - $30,000

Thanks for reading
TW

Update

2007-04-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

Well im finally back had a nightmare this week unable to get on the internet, problem is sorted now thankfully as ive been having poker withdrawl syptoms, i have managed to get the odd hour in here and there using a friends computer but i didnt win anything, will update the blog later with all the details, good luck all its nice to be back

Day 9 - A Losing Day

2007-04-17T14:20:00.001-07:00

Well my 1^st losing day of the challenge has arrived got off to a decent start on 2/4 tables was about $150 up after 20 mins then took a nasty beat with Aces on a flop of A 2 7 with 2 clubs on board player raises and I come over the top he calls with 56 clubs and rivers his flush do that was my $400 but in gone I then had a break for an hour and came back and 4 tabled 2/4 couldn’t hit a hand when I did I couldn’t hit a flop I ended the session after 2 hours just over $100 down. So after been on such a good streak ive had a setback but im not too concerned as ive still had a very good week going to call it a night now and get an early night and come back tomorrow refreshed and raring to go.

Start Balance – $31128

End Balance – $30590

Profit/Loss day 9 – $538-

Total Profit – $5590

DAY 8

2007-04-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

Start of the 2^nd week has been really good with my most profitable day of the challenge so far and ive broke through the 30k barrier, I started off playing 2/4 I sat down with $400 and left 90 mins later with $1800 I didn’t have to play particularly well to get to that as I was a card rack for a spell of about 20 mins in the middle of the session when I had AA twice, KK and QQ and they all held up which was nice I decided that was enough of the cash tables for today and decided to enter 25k gtd. On pacific I shouldn’t have bothered though as I was out inside 10 mins when my straight walked into quads, so I fancied another hour of poker and I 4 table some 2/4 for about 75 mins I lost a buy in at 1 of the tables early on when my KQ flush walked into A4 flush ouch! I reloaded and continued to play 4 games I won a couple of $200+ pots to get myself back level then near the end of the session I had AK with a 10 J Q flop player pushed all in with JJ and I win a $400 pot I ended the session about $500 up. I then played a couple of STT’s with little success but all in all was a good day and im very happy with the way things are going.

My target was $200 a day but so far into my challenge im averaging just over $750 so ive got to be very happy with things.

So if you’re reading this you’ll have heard music playing while you were reading ive just found out how to add music videos to my site I hope you like it.

Also just want to say good luck to Cottlad.

Ok early night tonight got a long week at work next day off not until next Tuesday.

Good luck

Start Balance – $29349

End Balance – $31128

Profit day 3 – $1779

Total Profit – $6128

DAY 7 - End of 1st Week

2007-04-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

Well that’s the end of the 1^st week and I have to say its been a good week considering my target for the week was $1400 and ive made over $4k and if only I could keep this going ill have this challenge done in no time but I’m not silly enough to think every week will be as good I haven’t had a losing day yet and I know I will have 1 sometime so when I do I just have to keep losses to a minimum and to keep my discipline.
I haven’t really had any big luck this week but I haven’t really suffered any really bad beats either, I feel my game is in pretty good shape atm and my concentration has been good I think its down to keeping my sessions shorter than I normally would I have been taking regular breaks and I think its helped me a lot.
So onto today I was up early again and started on the 2/4 cash tables I was playing 2 tables for 60 mins than sat out while I took a 5 min break I came back and played 3 tables for another 60 mins I then logged off for a few hours and had another 2 60 min sessions in the afternoon all my sessions were profitable today which was very pleasing.

I also played a couple of sats today for the Sunday night MTT’s I tried for the Sunday warm up but failed to qualify for that I could of bought in direct but I don’t really like laying out $215 for that tourney, I also entered a $10 sat for the 75k on pacific which I managed to get through so that was my only game this evening, ive just been knocked out as im typing this I came 41^st out of 950 for a profit of $327 quite pleased to get as far as I did really as I hardly had a hand all night and kept alive with blind steals.

I’m off to bed now as I’m back to work tomorrow lets hope I can have a good start to the week tomorrow night would be nice to break the $30k mark.

Good luck

Start Balance – $27979

End Balance – $29349

Profit day 3 – $1370

Total Profit – $4349

DAY 6 - Grand National Day

2007-04-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hi and im almost at the end of my 1^st week and its gone pretty well up to now only tomorrow to go then that’s 7 days into the challenge.

I got up at 7am this morning went to the paper shop to get my paper for the grand national then had some breakfast and opened up my 1^st cash table of the day at 8am I played around 2 hours and came out $20 up on the 2/4NL I just couldn’t seem to get anything going and most of the tables seemed to be playing pretty tight I then had a break for a few hours and came back in the afternoon where I played 2x90 minute sessions I came out the 1^st session $900 up playing 2/4NL and 3/6NL but gave a bit back in my 2^nd afternoon session to finish the day $750 up. I was then going to have a sleep and go to the casino but I wanted to play aussie millions Tournament so I decided to stay at home and play that, 84 started and I finished 12^th so that was no good, there were no real hands to talk about although I did hit quad tens to double up but I was still short stacked after that I was pretty much card dead most of the tourney and when all folded to me on the button I decide to push with 55 and get called by ace suited who hits his flush that’s the end of my tourney, (good luck idi0 take it down mate J).

I also played another MTT but didn’t last past the 1^st hour in that, I was going to have an hour on the cash tables but im feeling a bit tired with been up early and I have said to myself I must only play when im feeling fresh its all part of my new discipline routine.

Well I don’t know if I want to talk about the grand national I backed 4 horses in the race 2 of them fell at the 1^st fence the other fell at the 6^th fence so I was left shouting for McKelvey which gave me a run for my money and maybe if it was another 100yds to the finish line I might have won.

So probably be up early tomorrow and get a couple of hours in the morning and then a couple of hours sleep in the afternoon ready for the 75k gtd. And the poker stars Sunday Warm up.

Start Balance – $27301

End Balance – $27979

Profit day 3 – $678

Total Profit – $2979

DAY 5

2007-04-13T14:43:00.000-07:00

Well it was my home game last night only play for very small stakes its more just an excuse to meet up with some mates and have a few beers, I took some amazingly bad beats I think in the 1^st game I got my money in the pot infront of 5 separate occasions and managed to get outdrawn every time but I only ended the night £15 down so it was a cheap night out, I had the darts on in the background but didn’t manage to see much of it but pleased my bet on Lloyd came in.
So onto tonight’s session, I had a good night tonight I was around $300 down from a mixture of STT, MTT and $1/$2 cash I was going to call it a night as im pretty superstitious about Friday 13^th so I was just about to close the poker down when I spotted the biggest fish ive ever played playing at $5/$10 cash, now I shouldn’t really be playing these stakes but really this guy sitting at the table is too big an opportunity to turn down, now ive played some bad players before but this guy takes the biscuit he calls every hand and that is no exaggeration he really does call every hand pre flop regardless of the raise so I sat down with $1000 and vowed to only play 30 mins max I came off the table after 25 mins as the fish had left but I was $1600 up most of it courtesy of mr fish, 1 hand I had QQ flop came down Q 6 5 he bets $100 now theres 2 diamonds on the board so I come over the top and he calls with 6 2 lol.

I actually have started to feel sorry for this guy as everytime I see him at the tables he loses $2000+ in less than 30 mins I have even considered saying something to him but I keep thinking if he’s stupid enough to keep throwing money away at those stakes its his own fault and I guess he must have plenty money judging by the way he throws it about.

So Friday 13^th turned out to be a nicely profitable day with a $1300 profit very spooky, but a good start to the weekend, not sure if ill be playing much tomorrow as thinking about going to local casino but I will probably get a couple of hours in the morning and maybe an hour or 2 in the afternoon.

Good luck to everyone at the table’s thanks for reading.

Start Balance – $25992

End Balance – $27301

Profit day 3 – $1309

Total Profit – $2301

DAY 3

2007-04-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

Had a pretty good day today played 2/4 cash for about 3 hours and after losing $450 early in the session after my set of jacks was beat by set of kings I managed to claw my way back into profit I feel like my game is in pretty good shape at the moment and doing this blog is certainly helping my discipline as normally after losing my $400 buy in I would have gone up to 3/6 or 5/10 but I resisted the urge to do this and continued plugging away at 2/4. When I finished my session at the cash tables I decided to play a 600 seat MTT in which I finished 28th.
I wont be posting tomorrow as I wont be playing online I have a home game with a few friends so will be back Friday ready for hopefully a good weekend session.

Changing the subject slightly does anyone watch the Apprentice I cant believe these people are supposed to be some of the best business brains in the country ive never seen such a bunch of incompetent fools but I have to admit it makes for great TV, I also watched the cricket today and I thought England were embarrassingly bad and on that form we’ll get beat easily by West Indies and South Africa.

So premier League darts tomorrow, Darts is my favourite sport to watch on TV and I will make sure its on during the home game tomorrow, just been looking at the darts markets on betfair and I don’t believe there are any stand out bets but I fancy a little bet on Colin Lloyd to beat the Tripod at around 2.4ish.

Ok that’s bedtime for me now got another busy day at work tomorrow

Thanks for reading and good luck,

Start Balance – $25444

End Balance – $25992

Profit day 3 – $548

Total Profit – $992

2007-04-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

DAY 2

Well day 2 has ended and I made over my $200 target with a profit of $308 I only played about 90 minutes cash as I felt a bit tired today so I just played a few $50 stt’s and an MTT not much write up today as I need to get to bed for a good night sleep.
I’ve got to be quite happy with tonight’s profit as I didn’t really feel in the mood for poker I will be back tomorrow feeling refreshed.

Start Balance – $25136

End Balance – $25444

Profit day 2 – $308

Total Profit – $444

1st day

2007-04-09T15:42:00.001-07:00

Well the 1^st day is over and its been a pretty up and down session I played around 4 hours at 2/4 NL and was $500 down at 1 point and I thought about quitting for the day but I felt I was playing pretty well and just had some bad luck so I played on for another couple of hours and hit some nice hands including a straight flush and I managed to finish the day $136 up so didn’t make my $200 target but reasonably happy after the start I had.

Start Balance – $25000

End Balance – $25136

Profit day 1 – $136

Total Profit – $136

Check out the other blogs I have linked up some good poker blogs there and a nice betting blog from jbarnes.

If anyone else wants there blogs linked leave a comment and ill get them done as soon as I can.

Well im off to bed now to watch the lovely Suzy Perry on the gadget show J

Welcome to my Blog!!!

2007-04-08T06:02:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to my blog, this is my 1st attempt at doing anything like this and English was never my strong point so please excuse my spelling and punctuation.

Ok let me introduce myself, im 30 and live 10 miles from Newcastle in Northumberland, ive been playing online poker for 2 ½ years now and have done ok from it making a decent profit from my original £50 deposit I spent the 1st 6 months playing $0.10 and $0.50 STT’s just trying to learn the game since then my game has improved greatly and I now play up to $10/$20 NL cash but my main enemy has always been bankroll management although recently ive been reading up a lot on this but I still have a lot to learn about it, I have also started playing more live games at the local Casino in Newcastle and ive just been on a trip to Vegas where I played a lot of live Cash games, I also work full time doing 45 hours a week which is tough to do when also putting in 30+ hours a week on the poker I don’t find much time to sleep.

Ok so lets get to the reason for this blog I feel doing this will help my discipline and bankroll management, ive set my self a little challenge to try and win enough from poker to pay off my mortgage within 2 years hopefully sooner but I feel 2 years is a realistic target.

I am going to be playing 2/4 NL cash and maybe a little 3/6 if im running well, but I will also be playing a few STT’s and the occasional MTT, I play most of my poker on Pacific and PokerStars the problem with pacific is the poor rakeback deals and difficulty getting games at certain times but the standard of players on there makes up for this downfall as I think they have the biggest amount of fish on there ive ever seen on any poker site.

Ok lets get to the targets, im hoping to make a profit of $200 a day which I think is an achievable target and would give me around $70,000 for the year, I think I can make $500 a day but have set my aim at $200 and anything more is a bonus and means I will reach my target of $125,000 sooner, I currently have $27,000 in pacific and $5000 in stars, I have just withdrawn $7000 out of my pacific account to pay off my credit card and pay for my next trip to Vegas in October, so I have a total of $25000 to start with and would like to get to $125,000 within 2 years but as I said above hopefully this will be sooner.
If I do manage to achieve this goal and constantly show monthly profit I will then spend the next few months building up a decent roll again and I will quit my job and take up poker full time as I wont have a mortgage my monthly outgoings will be minimal I feel I have the game to play full time but don’t think I could quit working while I still have a mortgage hanging over my head.

So the challenge starts tomorrow 9th April 2007 I will post regular updates on here of my progress and I hope I can inspire a few people to do the same, I know this is going to be tough and it may not happen I may lose the lot but I feel I owe it to myself to atleast give it a go and I love poker so if I can do something I love and make money from it well I cant think of a much better life, there’s sure to be up’s and downs during this challenge but I would love to hear any comments anyone has wether there good or bad I have thick skin so you can say what you like, id particularly like any advice anyone can give about the targets ive set , staking plans and bankroll management as im always willing to learn.

Ok let the rollercoaster ride begin see you at the tables.

TW