Journey To Being an Online Poker Pro

Things have continued to progress for me at both Full Tilt and PokerStars.  I put in some long sessions, playing .25/.50NL for the most part.  I did move up to .50/$1 at Full Tilt one night but had a rough night so I moved back down pretty quickly.  I keep a Post It note on my computer screen reminding me not to get greedy and to stay the course.  I’ve gotten into trouble before by moving up before my bankroll could take any significant beats and went broke more than once.  When you start to hit some hands it’s very tempting to just jump up and hope the same thing continues.  I know I can play the upper levels but anyone can beat anyone at any given time and you have to be able to withstand the bad runs you will inevitably go through.  It’s all about bankroll management. 

I’ve gotten my account at Full Tilt up to just under $800 now through more steady grinding.  It was kind of funny as one guy was constantly calling me a nit (tight player not playing anything but premium hands) yet he was still calling my raises and getting choked when I’d wake up with AA.  Most of the guys at the table had between $30-$80, I’m sitting there with $170 and I’m the one getting made fun of?  The great part was about ten minutes later when this guy raised to $2.  I was in the BB and had 7 2.  I reraised him to $8.  He took his time, then wrote in the chatbox, “Folding JJ.  Not gonna bother”.  Of course I had to show the hand.  Now he was seriously tilting and throughout the night I was able to pick on this person because he never knew where I was.  It’s much of the strategy I talk about in Trying to Beat the Micro Limits and right now it’s working to a tee. 

I was actually playing two tables on Full Tilt that night and one at PokerStars.  The other table at Tilt had 3 maniacs and they were each taking turns getting lucky.  I would win a few hands on one table, then one of those guys would get a little bit on the other table.  PokerStars was a much slower grind and at one point I had $250 on the table after starting with $50.  My account had gone up to about $480 when I ran my flopped set of 10’s into another set of aces.  That hurt for $50.  A few hands later I lost another hand when I ran QQ into KK and lost another $50.  Six hours of grinding it out and within 5 minutes I had lost $100 back.  It happens to everyone but it doesn’t make it any better.  lol  I played a little longer and got the account up to just over $400, so it was still a good session

The nosebleed limits at Full Tilt have been very quiet for the past couple weeks now.  While the action was fast and furious for awhile with the arrival of Isildur1, things have taken many steps back since then.  There’s a rumour out there that he may actually have gone broke.  He was beating Tom ‘durrrr’ Dwan pretty regularly but getting destroyed by Patrik Antonius and Phil Ivey at the same time.  Dwan has since moved down to playing $50/100 and $100/200 which really tells me a lot.  Obviously his bankroll took a beating but a lot of younger guys would not have the discipline to move down to try and build it back up.  Ego is a big part of poker and it can really get you in trouble.  If Isildur1 did go broke, then he may be a victim of his ego while Dwan sucked it up.  A couple years ago when Brian ’sbrugby’ Townsend was losing a bunch he moved down levels but under a different screen name so people wouldn’t know it was him.  I guess he figured that a lot of people would be talking a lot about his moving down in a negative light, when it should be applauded.  He got into a lot of trouble over that one, had his red name status taken away and I think he had to donate some money to charities.  Actually I don’t think he had to but maybe did it as a good faith.  And Dwan would have to know the negativity, talks about his game, and his bankroll would be coming too but he obviously doesn’t care and nor should he.  The guy is so talented that he’ll be up there again soon enough.  Watching the moves this kid makes during live games is nothing short of amazing and it won’t be long before his name will be seen playing at the highest levels again.  Ahhh to have your name in red.  That’s the dream isn’t it?