Got behind in the blog but played 3 tourneys today. The 11+1 15k at Stars and went out early when JJ < AA. Played a $5 at UB, lost on the first hand when QQ < 55 on the river - got him all-in on the turn. And finished my BR build or bust at FTP when I went out in 61st after losing most of my stack when AQ < AT.

Finished 1565/2394 in the Stars 11+1 20k. That was one strange tourney.

Stars 11+1, ended up 276/2170. Pushed 55 into AQ. Turn was a Q, River was an Ace.

Played the Stars 11+1 20k tonight. 473/2331. 11% vpip in this one. I'm really getting sick of being cold-decked.

Another Stars $11+1 15k. Finished 492/2265. Another card dead run, in this tourney I had a VPIP of 7%. Caught a set with 55 early, then had to push from the SB w/A3 and tripled when the 3 paired. Last hand I pushed JJ in the BB into one limper, he called with QJ. River was a Q.

Also played a FTP 2/180. Out in 166 when AQ ran into a limper's AK on a A66 board. FTP BR at $4.08.

Did the Stars $11+1 20k. Finished 256/2284. Made $15.98. Pushed 1st in on the button with A6o. SB had AA.

Entered a Stars $11+1 MTT. Finished 259/2340. ITM was at 225. Pushed ATo from MP, BB had AQ.

Played at UB in the $20+2 10k. Finished 146/343. Was doing okay when AA < KJ. Had 105 chips left. Blinds were 75/150. Got to 900 and pushed TT from UTG and lost to KQ.

Also played a $5.50 MTT at Stars. Finished 194/1904 for $11.42. Had a whopping VPIP of 7% in this one.

Played the 10+1 20k again. Finished 809/2548. Started out well, then went card dead. Ended up pushing A7o into 99.

I played one MTT this evening, the $11+1 20kG at Stars. Finished 45/2380 for $78.54. Lost when 44 ran into KK and AJ.

I played a $10+1 15K at Stars. Finished 1729/1803 when my KK lost to QQ.

Played another 10+1 at Stars but it was a 20k. Finished 304/2240. Won $13.44.

Got a backer for some Stars tourneys. 100% for a 50/50 split. I loaded up and played a 25k $25+2.50 at Stars this evening. Finished 375/1415. M=8 pushed AQ into AK.

Played a 20+2 10k Guaranteed at UB. Finished 18/362. Played well but went out when KK lost to QJs. Made $65.00.

Played at $10 MTT at UB. Finished 127/229. Lost with Full Boat to a bigger FB.

Played a $20+2 MTT at UB on Saturday. Finished 5th for $650.00.

edit: I just found out that FT finishers at UB's Saturday tourney win a free entry in Sunday's 200k. No notification or contact, nothing. I found out after it was over. I contacted support but have heard nothing from them. I am NOT impressed with UB's communication.

Just finished a $5.00 SH MTT at AP. Finished 107/241. Ended when 55 < TT. I only had $6.80 left there so I figured I'll either win enough to withdrawal or bust. Don't need to play at AP with their recent problems.

Played one ST SNG at Stars today. The card dead run continues. Out in 6th. Stars BR at $11.40.

I also played a ST SNG at AP. JJ < AJ and out in 4th. It's pointless to play, I'm taking a break for a few days.

Got a backer for some MTTs at UB. Played a $20+2 10k at UB. Card dead with a VPIP of 11%. Finished 226/387. Also played at 2/180 at FTP. Had pocket 9s twice, both lose to ace chasers. Had AQ once and whiffed the flop. Out in 105.

One $5.50 ST SNG at UB. Same as yesterday. Four handed and I'm third in chips, had JJ in SB, pushed into Button's PFR. He called with AK and flopped an A. Out in fourth.

I have only played two ST SNGs today. The first at Stars where I pushed three-handed on the Button with A6o. BB insta-called with AA. Out in third for $1.80. Stars BR now at $12.60.

The second was a $5.50 at UB. Was third when four-handed. Had my first decent hand with QQ in the BB. Pushed into Button's (big stack) PFR. He insta-called and had AA. Out in fourth.

Played a 2/180 at FTP. Finished 31st. Not much to write about with this one.

Played a $5.50 MTT at UB. Finished 20/83. Terribly card dead. Had KK once and doubled. Last hand was on the button with AQ, SB called with QQ. No help and I was done. Surprised I lasted as long as I did in this one with the cards I was getting.

Also played a ST SNG at Stars. Finished 2nd when KK < AQ, for $2.70. Stars BR now at $12.00.

Finished the day with another $5.50 at UB. Out in 198/395. Played 4 hands, 66, 88, 88, AQ. Missed with all four.

Only played one ST SNG at Stars so far today. Jumped out to a nice lead when I flopped the nut straight and tripled-up. Wasn't hitting much after that but managed another 3rd for $1.80. Final hand JJ < AJ. Stars BR now at $9.90.

Played one more ST SNG. Took another 3rd, which is okay because I had to sit-out when it got three handed. Stars BR now at $10.50.

Hoping to play an MTT later: Played one at UB. Finished 124/393. Lost 98% of my stack on 99. I should know better by now. BAH!

Only played a ST SNG at Stars. Couldn't get anything going but managed a 3rd for $1.80. Stars BR now at $9.30.

Played the Friday Night HoldemRadio FR at Cake. Finished 177? of 277? don't remember exactly now but it wasn't good. Pretty card dead, last hand AJ < KT.

Also played a 2/180. Card dead there and gave away too many chips w/A8o in the SB. Last hand 55 < KK.

Played one MTT so far today. Another 100k sat at Cake. Finished 32/477 when AK < QT.

Only played one ST SNG. It was a $1.20 at Stars. Out in 4th when K3 < K5. Stars BR now at $8.70.

Got home in time to play a sat at Cake. Finished 47/484. Out when my AJs lost to K6s.

Played a 180 today. Out in 38th when TT lost to QT. I may do one more but then again I might try an MTT at UB.

No other poker today. Got to monkeying around with my video capture card and - poof! The time was gone.

Had a lot going on today outside of poker. But I did manage to play a Cake 100k qualifier and finished 40/449. Nothing exciting, had KK once for a small pot, quad 3s for a med sized pot, A9 doubled and card dead. Called other shorties 1st in Button push w/ A3s in SB and got called by BB A7. Button's K7 won it.

Played a HoldemRadio MTT FR at Cake today. Finished 6/272 for $5.00. This is another BR build from $0.00. Why I do these I don't know. I have a nice BR at UB. I should spend my poker time there and try for a nice return. This was the second HR event I've played at Cake, the first one I played awhile ago and finished 16th for $1.00. BR at Cake is now at $6.00.

Well, today I played two ST SNGs. This was at Stars where I'm trying to build a BR from $0.00. I'm at $6.60 now after cashing in a freeroll. I tried multi-tabling which is okay but not really my thing. I was bounced out in 8th in one (1.20 buy-in) and third in the other (.60 buy-in, won $1.80). 99 < A8 when villain hit trip 8s for third. I may get another game in today but we'll have to see.

I played a third ST SNG (1.20 buy-in) at Stars and won it ($4.50). Stars BR is now at $9.90.

I played another MTT sat earlier today and finished 11/378. Went out when 77 < TT.

I also played a 2/180 at FTP. Finished 46th when 99 < TT. I was down early when I lost with trip 5s holding 35s in the BB. UTG had A5. Managed to get right back into it when I called a push with 99 in the SB, ran into TT and a T on the flop sealed it.

No 180s yet this week. I played one MTT satellite on Monday, finished 10/457. I was short and pushed with KK. Two callers showed KK and AQ. So much for my outs. AQ rivered trip Qs and I was done. Only the top five moved on.

Haven't played anything else this week.

I haven't had time to do another 180 but yesterday I did play two ST SNGs at AP, finishing third in both. Was CL in the first but my A7 < A3 and two hands later I was out in 3rd. Was short in the second one and never improved. Made ITM in both so at least it was +ROI.

BR Build or Bust Quest

I'm going to try a 2/180 quest at FTP. I'm down to $30.08 there so I'll see if I can come out +ROI. I've only got 13 attempts to build with, let's see what happens....
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pllzvJTLda_pIrh0esa9oFQ

First Post

This blog is going to be for poker and little else. I'll be posting some of my tourney results, bank roll quests and significant or interesting tournament hands here. I'll save my social life, private life, career, education and politics for another time, another place. Now, on to poker!

I've been in a bit downswing lately where my hands just aren't holding up. You know the story; In with the best of it, out with the worst. But I've been making good calls and good folds at critical stages so I'm fairly happy with the way I've been playing. And I feel like things are turning in my favor.

I feel a quest coming on........