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Black.

LWPS Qualifier & Gambling

First night hitting the (online) table after 3 weeks of rest. Took part in a Regional Tourney for a seat to Leisure World Poker Series cruise end of this month, the one I just took part in July. I re-bought once, and during the break time didn't know how to rebuy. I was clicking all over the table including my own avatar until I realized it should be same as cash games.

So I click the dealer chips and saw the add-on button for another 5000 chips and click it but was too late for 0.000001 seconds. So everyone except me and the other guy in a full final table re-bought, and both of us were shortest stack. I was out quickly and couldn't rebuy anymore. Got fucked by Dad for playing poker and he ask me to quit before I get super addicted like my cousin (who had won a few thousand US dollars in cash games & tourneys), who play number of hands a day equivalent to the number of hands I play past one year.

So as all the poker players always face, how can I explain poker is not exactly like the games u play in casinos? I told him its a gambling but it is against other players instead of dealer (who's odds are way up against u). U should noe it is hard to explain that to anyone, in addition to the fact that I haven't been profiting in this poker arena (a question he prompted).

I tilted the moment he screwed me and I haven't even sat down and seen more than 20 hands. Not sure how I shall proceed from here, oh well let's see.

Black.

Most Stupid Heads-Up Match Ever (Rant)

Played about 150 hands. Basically this guy (I really wish to name him but forget it), is a tight-passive opponent. First one I ever encountered. Here's his style. He doesn't call u when he did not hit, NEITHER does he raise you when he has the NUTS. Weird? I accept this type of player but not losing to him. Why? Here is how the match goes:

Both started off with 1,500 chips.

I played my way to 2,500 vs 500.
All-in, A4 vs 88. He won.

2,000 vs 1,000. We grinded abit and all-in again.
67s vs JQ. Ok fine here he won.

I was down a few flips to about 800 chips vs 2,200 but I slowly grind my way up and avoided flips. Because this guy can only beat me thru' flips. But sadly, to end an opponent you need to flip somehow.

So I fought my way to about 1,800 vs 1,200 again. We flip again K9s vs A8 and rivered an ace so he won.

So I'm left with 600 vs 2,400. I rem the last hand being A9 vs 77. Well, board missed.. so fucking beautifully. I fought so hard for so long for so many hands and it seemed like PokerStars pre-programmed the match for him to win. Well fuck it man.

I am on serious tilt right now. Its worst than a curse I'm going through. It seems like its not about losing now, its about how I fucking lose all these. Never felt worst losing a heads-up match.

Not sure when I will post next because everything has been bust out. So take care and good luck everyone.

My First Poker Tournament - LIVE

Delayed for a week before i actually blogged on this. Last Sat, 23 July 2011 marks another start of my poker life. I have been playing online poker and home games with friends n family, but never against strangers. It was held at Leisure World cruise, called the Leisure World Poker Series. My friend asked me to go together and I did.

We were pretty nervous about the whole thing. 

Anyway, i rem i was saying i started this poker thing becuz i believe it is a game of skill, instead of a game of chance. I know ppl hear the word poker itself will categorize it with those games u see in the casino. But no, one basic reason y is in those game of pure luck like baccarat or sic bo, u cant choose to purposely lose. 

I packed my stuff quickly n packed like i was gng to genting lol. I left my pokerstars.net cap at home though cuz i dont wan to be seen like a fanboy there. But i was wrong. The people ther were more "enthu". They wore, pose and play like those poker pros u see on youtube. Very interesting. There were even team who made their own jackets with slogan.

Arriving at the ferry terminal, i was surprised to see so many youngster our age. i think people there wants to be famous. Fame, power n money. Who dont wan when what we sees r only the good side of it?? I just wan to see how far i can go in this arena. Im a sucker for success stories, and i wan to be part of it.

We went there in a slow journey probably becuz we were eager. I was a little scared seeing the shaky boat. But quickly adjusted to it and realised how i missed those times in the navy riding against the waves.

Finally, we hopped on the leisure world cruise n left our stuff in the cabin n never see it until 12 hours later. It was bigger than i expected, but not something i wanna bath in or date at. We left quickly to register for our freeroll. Top 3 gets a seat to the main event (which we were there for) FREE!

I play badly n nervously during the freeroll. It was a good warm up. I threw a lot of cards away. I was scared getting kicked out n played super tight. I won only one pot n slowly got eat up by the blinds with A4 diamonds vs KJ. Got a chance there. But flop came x x K, turn K, n river can kiss-my-ass-already.

We went on the grab cheap beers on the deck, free food n cup noodles, before registering for the main event. It was so coincidence that my friend was sitting right nxt to me in the main event. We try not to get in each others’ way but to our surprise, the one n only Singaporean Team Pokerstars Pro Bryan Huang sat at our table. We knoe we were gonna have a tough first few levels.

I played tight but managed to grab a few pots here n there. Until the last hand b4 the first break, i guess it was my highlight of the trip. I was dealt KK – cowboys. I wasted no time and raised about 4 bb pre-flop. An indian guy called. Bryan re-raised all-in, he was short stack that moment. I re-raised all-in too hoping the indian guy would call also. He folded though.

Bryan turned over KJ to my delight, i showed my KK.

Flop came x x J. Nevermind i was still leading.

Turn came another J!! Wtf!! N becuz it was last hand before the break ther were many onlookers. I was speechless.

River came another clubs, and i made a king-high flush, busting Bryan out.

I was happy enuff to sit along playing against our national one n only team pokerstars pro, let alone busting him out. Thanks to that river luck. Well, a pro is a pro, he rebuy again n played all the way to money-finishes at 12th position.

I survived my way to number 25th, out of 95 players. I was happy enough. I think i played better than my usual self. It was about 7 hours. Adding on cash game later, i played a straight 11th hours of poker. I was tired as my cash games even called a wrong bet, which costs my whole stacked. I stopped at there n went to sleep.

I was tempted to play some roulette on the way to cabin but resisted. Promised mum i wouldnt touch those already, i told her poker is different from gambling so i won't touch. I doubt she understands what i meant, but poker IS gAmbling. But it is skill-oriented than luck alone. If not, why the champion no.1 who busted me out in the main event could won twice n have consistent result?

Was kinda creepy slping alone in the cabin. I read online some say haunted, even mum said so oh well. Anyway, ther was nth to do. So i slept a straight six hours after lying down damn long. Next day was simply gng home n talking abt stuff. This was reAlly a great exposure. Although it was soooo expensive.

I had a one week break from poker therafter.

I hope to see some results from my poker soon. But i still played like shit today. Anyway,if i could find a good salary degree job nw to focus on i might put these on a hiatus n focus on my job. Unless time permits. Realistically speaking, how to make living out of these? I would if i could hahaha.

Anyway fuck casinos. After busto out in genting resort world playing sic bo, i had enuff. I had enuff of being fooled by these randomness. I told myself never to bet in the casino again. There r no success stories in casino except for the casinos themselves. 

Poker Busto

Some bad beats in poker. I play only heads-up SNG. In my first round, I had trips (a set), showdown against straight. Second trips was against a flush. And finally my flush met his full-house. That should have spelt my luck for today but I still proceed.

2nd round was again a loss. Third round I managed a win, followed by fourth and fifth a loss (chasing again). I took a short break, and my greatest mistake is to seat down on a heads-up cash game. Short stacked game. Which I busted in the end as well as my account.

I didn't had a good day today. Another argument with my girlfriend which puts us in "silent mode". I don't blame her but blame on me not knowing how to step away on bad days as usual. Going to rest and play some games on my iPad.

I don't write any secret of trading or poker here. Just sharing ways of busting up.

Black.

My Chip & My Chair

Last Friday was a "Black Friday" for American friends regarding the online poker world. It was such a sudden move that online poker was banned in the US. Very weird. We play US poker sites and the most we could think of is our own country got banned instead of them. I'm not too sure what happened though but business as usual for foreigners. It also affected our games because it takes quite long to start a game without the US players. It will also shock the people who are professional online poker players who grind for a living, its sad.

Increased my stake to $5 recently on my SNG HUs. I still need to get used to it because this stake is definitely over my margin based on my capital. I had a game earlier, it was close.. I was down to 295 and managed to win back the game (brag). It was easily a loss. I was lucky on shoves.

The guy was tight and aggressive. But so far the first opponent I faced without a single limping. He either raised 3bb or fold pre-flop. But he only 3-bet me once in the session, so I did not worry about bluffing the blinds. In HUs, I think one of the challenging opponents are those who fold immediately upon your show of strength (a raise, re-raise). He fold 70% of the time on my pre-flop raises. He wants to control the game, meaning he only allow hands to go on on his lead (last to bet). I like to play this way too because it makes opponent pretty hard to win your money, the only way you can do is to trap him, which I did but not 100% successful, explain later. But I prefer varying my play throughout the game. But my weakness I supposed is I get too predictable on bigger blinds.. due to risk.

I took the hand replays of key hands in the session.. just for record sake.. was happy with the win. :) Like Jack "Treetop" Straus incident on winning the 1982 WSOP main event after he shoved and left a chip which leads to the saying "Chip and a Chair".

Hand #7 - Huge pot lost early in the game. I was in this state most of the game.. struggling hard.



Hand #25 - not sure he was bluffing but I almost shoved in here.. lowest chip count after this pot.



Hand #26 - this was ugly play by me, but I thought of trapping by failed.



Hand #28 - first shove.



Hand #50 - this was another lucky shove.



Hand #53 - I tried to trap here, but he didn't raise on river. maybe because this was the firstime I called him to the river. we all wish every flop is like this.



Hand #55 - another huge drawdown.



Hand #68 - last key pot for me on the match. won him with a kicker.



Hand #72 - last hand.



About 22 minutes for 72 hands. This was one of my best. Of course I almost gave up mid-way.

It is Good Friday, have a happy long weekend everyone! For fellow Singaporeans, election is coming.. vote wisely!!

Black.

Poker Heads-Up & School Sucks

It's been a while.. again. Been super busy with work and school at nights. There are 4-5 assignments at hand right now and free time are only having a few hands of poker, barely had time to have drink with friends even.

My plan now is to resume trading after my very last exams, which will be upcoming end May. After which, I will put time back to chart analysis and swing trade, because I don't want to have intensive trading yet. I seriously can't wait for school to be over with.. this 3.5 years seems like 35 years to me. At least within this working/studying 3.5 years, I managed to learn the fundamental basics of trading and poker. After that I will have lots of own time.

I just bought an iMac recently at our yearly IT Show in Singapore. I remembered FX said, once you go iMac, you won't go back to Windows. Haha I agree.. it has very nice usability and everything is simpler. I preferred a desktop since my school is finishing, and I bought an Acer notebook 3 years back but I barely carry it around. So a desktop, without a CPU, is the reason I go for it. Carried it home, plug just one wire and ready to roll!

As for pokerstars, after my huge drawdown early march playing 10c cash games multi-tabling, I haven't really stepped back to cash games. Right after, I played a bit of 18-men SNGs (Sit & Go) and 9-men SNGs, I even go for some micro turbo 90-men SNGs, all without much luck. SNG is a different play with cash games as you all know. I think cash games require a bit more skills, and SNG require skills early game, and the fishes like me have their chance to catch up late game when the blinds grow big.

Since end last week and this whole week, I have been grinding some HUs (heads-up) SNG and had lotsa fun. Yea fun because I won haha. I played 2+0.2 HU and 2+0.1 HU-Shoot-out - shootout meaning 4-men heads-up.

I used to have much fear playing HU because it is some thing you have to give your full focus, like when your opponent is tight, starting to bluff, starting to attack or withdraw, basically the rhythm of things. So I don't dare to go more than two tabling at once. I wonder how pokerstars' superstar showdown, where they go four-tabling against the SAME opponent is like OMG.

I can't really tell why I'm on winning streaks for HU at the moment, probably most of opponent I meet are taking micro-stakes for fun. HU is very different from full table. I had fun, and learn even if I lose. My results this week is 20-8. 8 of the lost, 2 of which are the same opponent, the other 2 is against my good friend, and the other half are some one else. My 20 wins are from different opponents. It probably mean that the same opponent who beat me twice seriously outplayed me in some ways. But by winning once, doesn't mean anything probably, that's why I don't re-challenge opponent I won LOL.

Still got half the assignments to rush. And I hate Mondays omg. As writing it's Sunday night and I can't bear to go to sleep. Wet weather this week and I didn't went to jog for my training of IPPT - Individual Physical Proficiency Test every Singaporean men have to take every year. You get some money if you get pass with certain points, more money with silver medal, even more with gold medal.

I only got gold once in my national service days and after that test I told myself it will never happen again. Almost run to death. 2.4km in 9.24min (gold is <9.45). After my service I had two years of silver, last year I had a passed with money because of some operation before the test. I am targeting a silver this year but I think it's gonna be tough. I never had problems with static stations (sit ups, shuttle run etc) but running is a serious killer. I hate running and I sucks. It takes not only physical, stamina but even mental ability to push through.

Wish me luck, wish you luck, wish everyone luck luck luck!

Black.

Good Week Bad Day So Many Words

Been 2 weeks since I last posted. Very busy with night lessons, group assignments and online homework. Trading has come to a complete halt at the moment. Oanda account has finally break-even after 6 months and I did not trade with my FXDD account because I have limited access to it.

Wednesday, Bottle and I went to a talk hosted by Oanda Asia Pacific here in Singapore, by Stuart McPhee on basic trading lesson. It wasn't a lesson about asking you to sign up their course though he was selling his book at the refreshment and attending the talk gives you chance to win an iPad. I admit I was there partly because of it.

The fee of the course was $50, but for Oanda account users, they will deposit it into your account, on top of that Oanda account users have 3x more chance for the iPad. Ok I seem to be going for the wrong reason, but thats not the saddest thing. I fell ill in the afternoon and was feeling terrible during the talk. Had cold sweat and was feverish, I was dozing off throughout and had medical leave the next 2 days. So sorry if I am not able to share what was taught in the talk, but they were things like using take-profit and stop loss and identifying trends and basic bankroll management. It was good, Mr Stuart believes solely on technical analysis only. And also he take things simple, and does not complicate his trades.

I had quite some time for poker this week. Monday started off badly, joined a 27-man SNG with my fren and I was out in no time. Felt bored along the way so I played a 6-handed $0.10 table, seeking action. Sadly the play was different, I kept getting called unlike in a full ring game and drew down quickly.

Thursday, on my first day of medical leave, I was 6-tabling 500 hands. I think that was my limit. Am tired right after the session. That day, I ran pretty good, I was up about 20+ usd, never in my poker life have I had such a successful session. I later joined a 18-man SNG and cashed out 2nd place.

I planned my style before the session. I have been losing by being too loose and calling opponents' raises and playing too much hands. This time I approached the game by folding more hands than before, folding opponents' raises, playing much much tighter. It ran real well. In a full-ring game, I managed to bluff a lot of pots too, I think partly because other people were also playing a lot of tables at once. And probably they can't be bothered when they miss their flops.

On Friday, I played the same blinds 10cent table 6-tabling and again another 500 hands. It was bad at some table, my JT hearts ran into ace high flush. At the other table, I called a re-raised pre-flop with 66. Flopped a 6 and I re-raised all-in against aces. Sweet. I got closed to 10 usd that session using the same approached. Later in that day, I played another 18-man SNG and won 1st!! It was a micro though. I was so happy and dancing around until my girlfriend asked the prize I won.. errrmm.. seven dollars. WHAT!? Was it worth the effort she asked. Its the winning that counts heehee.

So the 2 days ran well, but I think that doesn't prove my approach is good yet. I see improvement becuz I slowly grind my way up in the session, but I still think I'm seeing too much flop. So I took a day off on Saturday, and started my third session on Sunday, today. This time, it went all the way to 900 hands. It might be little to some of you, but 3 hours sessions was a strain to my eyes. My little 14.1 inch laptop could only fit 6 tables at once, I took another shot at a micro 27-man sng and have much difficulty on the 7th, I really got no place to put and was so clumsy. I was out quickly in 18th place and I didn't even know what I was doing.

Lesson 1: never play more than you/your screen can handle.

I ran bad on the start, with an all-in with something against something I forgot. I slowly grind my way back and was seeing profit already. I dominated some of the tables. That was about 500-hands when I last checked. I thought it was a Sunday and I was pretty free so I continued my session. Maintaining throughout, my connection got messed up on about 700+ hands and I was stuck in four of the tables, unable to play, exit nor cashout. I had to close them out and join another table. I was feeling frustrated already and I began losing. Cards ran pretty badly right after and then I got disconnected again. Maybe this is an omen for telling me to stop my session.

In less than 200 hands, my profit of less than 10 became -30 quickly.

Lesson 2: don't play beyond session you can handle, stop once u feel fatigued.

Lesson 3: stop immediately once you feel irritation. cards are supposed to be ur fren, if u feel irritation, they will become ur enemy in no time.

I finally sat out and walk out of my seat. My water-bottle was empty and I was feeling dried up. My eyes really needed a break and I felt like shit. It feels exactly like those tilting days like my trading. I went for a shower to cool off and thoughts kept running over my mind. I felt anger and frustration. Feel like screaming if you ask me.

I went out and took a breather. Back home, I thought about one more tourney for the night. I maintained well and was chip lead until a flop T34, I had pocket 34 and re-raised all-in becuz he was short stacked. Expectedly, he turn over an AT, top pair with best kicker. I was favourite at the moment, although I know he had outs. Unexpectedly, turn came a Q, river came a Q. ARGH. That over-pair on the board overwrites my treys. Thats poker. My stack was halved. I was out in the 7th later with A4s vs pocket tens, taking another huge draw-down on my bankroll.

Lesson 4: Now I know why people say stop during your bad day, because if you continue, it felt double worst.

Lesson 5: Such days makes you appreciate break-even day. (which leads to the what-if what-if if-only if-only I had stop at 500 hands at little profit blah blah)

After reading Trader32's post of full-time trading, it kinda give me a clearer picture on dreams on becoming a full-time trading, or full time poker? Full time poker doesn't seem to exist in my country except probably Pokerstars team pro Bryan Huang.

Trading/poker skills aside, it definitely have tremendous stress when ur income solely dependent on these. Because u need money, u need to trade, becuz u need to trade, u may do it despite having no setup. Besides, being an employee, company gives u 14.5% of your salary into your Central Provident Fund account, something very important to us Singaporean. We use it to buy ridiculously high pricing homes here, and we use it for retirement. If we have to become a full time trader, we need to be proficient enuff to sustain such high standards of living. Right now, if lucky, my profit a month can only buy me a double cheeseburger in mcdonalds', not even a full meal with french fries, if they can take out the pickles and charge me less that would even help.

I'm going to have some ice-cream cool off, tomorrow is a new day new week. Gl to everyone at the chart and at the tables!

Black.

Blah blah blah..

So........ bad. Cards were bad. But probably becuz I was too loose in the first place.

I need to work on my play a lot. Today I made the biggest lost.

We sometimes have to accept these shit happen as they are part of it..

But it still feels shitty.

Its time to seek the oracle.

SNG: 2nd Place, Upcoming Week

Didn't trade for the past two days. Busy and waking up early due to some event function for my company. Managed to find a little bit of time for a SNG match on stars earlier.

The match started well, people get knocked out quite fast. Until when there were 5 people left the match was quite a drag. I could have knocked out one guy after drawing the nut flush on the river, but I didnt bet his whole stack. I bet two times pot size on river so to leave him 400 chips so that someone else could knock him out for the bounty, stupid.

Until when there were 3 of us left, there was a lady (i'm not sure if its really one but her nick sounded like it) who "kicked me in the nuts". Consecutively two hands went like this against her:

I held JJ.

Raised pre-lop 2 bb.

Flop - 9TJ

I didnt bet a lot becuz it seems dangerous.

Turn - K

I bet one big blind again and she called.

River - 7

She called my two bb bet again.

Naturally, she turned over a QK for a straight, on flop.

=============================

Next hand,

I held TT

I raised another pre-flop with 2 bb (been raising wide range of hands for 2 bb)

Flop - T39

I flopped the nuts again, and bet on it. Two of them called.

Turn - 8

She checked, despite hitting her straight draw, I bet and they called.

River - 6

She bets, we called, and she turn over QJ and groped us by below.

===================

During heads-up, I think both of us can't wait to tear one another apart after such a draggy session, when three players left (me, the lady and another opponent). The "another opponent" is the one left who heads-up with me. Lost my last pot on 77 vs 99 all-in pre-flop.

And after the session, as always, I find myself running to the toilet. I managed to only knock out one guy for a bounty though.

======================

School will be resuming next week, my last week end for enjoyment. I am probably putting trading and poker aside even more for this four months ahead to complete my last semester of school smoothly.

I considered leaving my current job so that I can focus on my last semester of school and then have a "trial" of doing trading/poker full-time for the next four months. But how many of us dare to leave a "stable" job so that they can have "unstable" income? Hardly anyone I know does, let alone the fact that I haven't had record of consistent profits in either field.

If I plan to move on from my current workplace, then its time to plan which step to go before landing my foot blindly. Its time to find a field or industry for a career soon. I need to know what I wanttttttttttt........... Passion vs Money?????

Black.

Poker: Weekend Grind

Yesterday I played another Sit & Go [Knockout], and came in fourth. :( that was sad. I played my best but i still think the problem with me is not being aggressive enough.

Later I switch to cash games and met a couple of hands like this:

Post-flop all-in when board: 844

I was holding 88 (the goddamn nuts, less double 4), and opponent was TT.

T came on the river :o

Next hand, opponent shoved all-in pre-flop, I was holding KK. He turned out 88.

The board came 479 T J, giving him a straight. I accepted it, but would have felt better if I lost to triple 8s instead.

Today I juz played cash games. 6-hand 20-50bb $0.10, I usually choose the lowest average pot table, until I am more comfortable enough to move up. Had a nice profit after 200-hands, I am not multi-tabling until I can play my single table with consistent profit. I did played well today I felt, on top of that, I think the table is generally weak and cards were lucky.

A local team pokerstars pro is online right now, Bryan Huang - the only Singaporean in team pokerstars pro. I wonder how is life being a Singaporean team pokerstars pro.

Have been staying at home throughout the weekend, its time to go out and take a break.

See ya!

Black.

Grinded from Grinding

Didnt do very well yesterday. Wanted a short grinded but got grinded instead. When the whole house is tapping for my wireless broadband connection, I got problem with my poker. I often got sit out of the table table due to time out. And thats when I wanted a little faster pace and opened a second table, which was the first mistake made. I cant multi-table yet.

Lost my first buy-in NL Hold'em Cash Games Short-handed 20-50bb, $0.05/$0.10. I grinded back my loss thereafter. But trouble came at the second table. Lost a few critical pots. I felt sucky after all-in preflop my AKs vs QQ. Flop came KT3, turn 7 and river a............... Q!!! Well, 2 outs, but it still happens.

Following, was flopping a mid pair, i was holding K9. Board was A96 T 9. I raised on river obviously. That guy was good. He didnt bet like he had pocket aces on flop and turn at all. WhAm! He takes down the pot again.

Taking a short break tonight to settle some personal stuff. Till then!

Black.