Through review of my poker perciptions, it has been discovered by my poker mentors that there are "inhibitors" in my poker system.

Also known in the poker world as "leaks". Though like many abusers, I have managed to hide these from myself, remain friendly while intoxicated and thankfully have caused little harm to the poker community. I have decided to turn my self in for treatment. (OK, I caused a little harm on my quest for the black star)

During this treatment, I will be supervised by my fellow DrCheckRaise members, SCkenny and the SpadeClub Community.

As part of my treatment, my license to "Binge Poker" has been revoked. I must spend as much time dealing in shaking my addiction to "leaks" as playing. I won't lie, there are gonna be some rocky times.

To help myself, I also must reach out to others, either for "fundemental" support or as part of a recovery group.

I must attend clinics every Sunday, when not under the direct supervision of my family. I will keep a diary of my progress to be accountable and for review by my peers.

When will I be cured? My progress will be evaluted on January 1st, 2010.

The evaluation will consist of a few things:

My Overall SPOY ranking, for baseline purposes.

My quality of play. This will be Judged using my hands played, SPOY Points earned, badges collected and Money won. I will be allowed to also factor in my Live profits.

My ranking as compared to JonsWife (who will be schooled) .......umm sorry little slip.

Its gonna be tough, but I have to kick the "leaks" . (END)


Current record:

SC Member Since: April 26, 2008 SPOY Rank 2008: 257

Quality of play Stats as of Feb 2, 2009: 72.5k hands played (MTT Live, Sats and Points)

Since SC start date: (all games except home games)


12 wins

43 Top 5

45 6-9th

15 Outside final but in money (not points)


Total of MTT Wins for Over $100 Since 2006= $7527 (not profits)


Total Live profits for 2008: $3500 +/- (factored in a negative 25% for expense, safety factor)

$60 buy in min stats MTT: 2 chops (HU), 1 third, 1 win ($2000 total)

5 final tables total. Less than 20 live MTT played since April 2008. (Average buy in $60) -$1200 entry

12 live Casino cash sessions: 4/8 Limit, 3-6 Limit, 1-3 NL, 5/10 Omaha High/Lo Limit $2.15 returned per $1 wager ($100 buy) +$1380

Approximatelly 25 Home games. $3.30 returned per $1 wager ($40 buy in) +$2300

Total Subscription site wins: $389 (-30% for IRS) = $272.30 - $120 membership fees = +$164.30



Edited 12 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2009 12:09AM by jontm.

3 days of blogging later....................

Finally got on the felts. (The SC Building way better pots, playing a variety of hands based on odds and building huge stacks early...........

Still need a few days to shake the overprotecting my hand thing, costing me the same big stacks.

Slow, steady, small ball is working. Fast, ram and jam is not.

Building stacks fast, 15k in first hour of 1K tonight. All small pot poker. Been laying down to dangerous draws and hitting my own.

However tonights lesson for me was "Why fark with the big stack, when you are big stack number 2?"

Lost it all in one hand. I had the Ace high flush. But why do I get involved with the only player that can bust me?

It was one of those hands that makes me love and hate the game at the same time. It was true poker.

Please read "He played it perfectly (really it was a VNH)"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2009 12:28AM by jontm.

Taking a technical break and table break. Having fun on the lighter side.

Please read "Take my IRS (e) Test", "Whats an IRS (e) player?" and "An amazing offer for all those Involved"

1 is posted here and the other 2 in the SC section.

Played 2 Live $60 freezeouts, no $$ but feeling great. Made top 20% of field both times. Applying pressure well, really getting comfortable with small ball. Exits when players woke up with hands, just picked bad spot to move in pre-flop deep. Please read DonkyKongs feedback in "Played Casino tonight, What a differnece (in confidence) it was......." in hand Analysis, if you want to know why I'm happy even losing, LOL

jontm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 3 days of blogging later....................
>
> Finally got on the felts. (The SC Building way
> better pots, playing a variety of hands based on
> odds and building huge stacks early...........
>
> Still need a few days to shake the overprotecting
> my hand thing, costing me the same big stacks.
>
> Slow, steady, small ball is working. Fast, ram
> and jam is not.

I have decided that Jam and Ram does not work. I usually Jam when my edge is big, just to find that most SC players are not capable of laying down even bottom pair, which sets me up for the suck outs. I too am going to slow down my game to small ball.

I am gonna try to ramp up my live play, get on the felts a little more. I feel like I'm going backwards here and need to focus on quality not quantity.

Played a $550 Canadian Poker Tour Event and found some gaps in my Game that could help me slay low limit.

Mainly lack of advanced steal plays, the resteal and squeeze plays. I am getting more comfortable with atc position raising to pick up blinds and SNG's on money sites are helping bubble play and short handed improvements.

These topics are all discussed in the tactical section, with the SNG strategy to come. I will post links here later.

I have moved from SC to micro stakes at cash sites, but mainly for time scheduling reasons. Already after SC I am accumulating Stars leaderboard points at 4x the rate pre spadeclub...so I will have to go from SPOY improvement to using SharkScope, Bluff DB and Official Poker Rankings to see improvement.

My live play is improving in my opinion, but no big cashes as I attempt to put it all together. We aren't even close to the end of the year yet...look for some good tips to apply to your micro games soon!

Since last year things are night and day. After the $550 I was -$200+. I played 1 more at that level, still missed the money but not by much, then a $350 and final tabled but missed money the money by a shinny. Moving down a level I walked to final in large field and cashed. Over all, Donkey Kong has helped me apply a consistent 10-30% and I have 3 online bankrolls that I have not busted in 6 months plus. I use the SNG and micro cash to fund shots at mtts with guaranteed prize pools or large payouts.

Nothing big online yet, but I do not take it very seriously yet either. I will have another 3 months to play on SC in a few weeks.

All in all, the game has me 14k ahead since 2007, every year is getting better. I am at +990 this year 3 months in, I feel like some leaks have been plugged.

Jonswife is still up $40 YTD, but she took her first few shots and has spent well in excess of $2500 playing and is still up that hair, so it is productive and an investment. She took $100 at 1-2 moved up to 2-5 an pulled $1600 profit out in 2 sessions. It let her take a shot at a $550, a $225 and a $185.

One thing that has helped is selling action. After watching her play cash game, a few players bought 50% for $280 and again $80. I like making these deals as it is win, win.

Should she cash big, they would take a huge junk, but she would gain that in future stakes based on performance. She has gone deep and been last woman standing when she was horsed, so they are still satisfied in their picks.

I believe the impaired charge should be lifted and full speed ahead!