Managed to hit all the semis today, 13th in the action hour, 11th in a 5 cubed, 16th in the 26 10k on tilt as well as final 200 in the Big $22, making for a frustrating day where I seemed to lose CL pots with considerable equity all over the place.

However very happy with the day on the whole, Reviewed for a couple of hours with 4 other guys which helped me clear my mind a bunch and be aware of certain spots, then when 1 tabling the action hour tonight spent about 2 hours improving my notes going through my database which feels like a really healthy activity.

Also pretty happy that stars/tilt are yet to implement this new rake on rebuys they were meant to hit us UK guys with, hopefully we swerve that one as it seemed pretty outrageous anyway. Potentially reviewing for a couple of hours tomorrow, providing my friend isnt still feeling rough as tits.

[The Year in Review]

The Year in Review

I feel like 2014 was a pretty special year for me, especially the tail end where I managed to heat up setting me up ideally for 2015. I feel like in this time I learnt about myself, alongside with my determination to grind through the dark patches and kept the passion for the game, something I was only able to recognise how I would deal with it when it came about.

I managed to play 328 days out of a possible 358 (Took a week long holiday in Spain during the year period), bringing me on to my first goal of the year:

Goals

Play 300 days minimum in 2015

Whilst I've proven to myself I can play more than this amount, I feel it is a solid point to aim for as the past year was lacking some balance during the times I had very little money and drove myself to grind every day to try and see the other side of the slope.
I currently live with my girlfriend who is very understanding and completely understands the life and budget swings of poker, I don't think I spend enough time with her, doing what makes her happy. We have a very strong relationship and can only be glad of all the support she's shown throughout the year, hopefully this year can become more balanced whilst still putting in the graft at the tables.

Break the top #300 on PocketFives

Whilst it's not a measurement of ability, it is a measurement of hard work. The rankings are something I religiously check every Wednesday, and feel the top #300 is a realistic target for the year.

Continue to focus on game selection

I feel this is something I do relatively well at the moment, and with stars changes effecting games (e.g. all rebuys being raked, rake on bounty MTT's rising) it's something that needs great focus. Unfortunately I will have to sack off rebuys as the rake increase doesn't make them too sustainable, and will continue to try and avoid turbo MTT's where I can as I understand they are very difficult to sustain a regular decent ROI in due to increased variance and thinner edges.

Force my way into high stakes

Kind of hard to list this straight after a goal based on game selection, as obviously the higher the buy-in the tougher the field will be (most of the time). I want to become more focussed and improve my game so I can continue to move up stakes and have a solid enough ROI in higher games to make them worthwhile playing.

Review more!

Standard goal for all poker players I believe, although much more difficult to put into practice. Thankfully in thebigdog09 I have someone who is always pushing me for a review a few times a week, he's better at this than me and I have to step my drive up so we are both motivating one another, as supposed to it mainly being him motivating me. That along with being backed by pads, in a stable with a bunch of hard working regs sets me up perfectly as I feel I have everything at my disposal with no reason as to why I can't 'move up the ladder'.

I see many regs this time of year saying they are going to get better at it after a poor year and usually suggest that their volume has been poor too. I don't believe in becoming a withered reg so to speak, when I hit a point in time where I go a few days or more thinking meh, can't be bothered with the grind today then it's probably time to find a new line of work.

Too many people see poker as an easy alternative to work, when realistically if implement properly it's a really tough alternative to work. I don't know of many people who work 10 hours a day at least 5 times a week, as well as having to go home to do more work to make sure they are prepared for the following day, that thrown in with no guarantee of money makes for a tough life.

To a happy 2014, and hopefully an even happier 2015!

Click to see full-size image.

However managed to find a cash in the B109 and grind through the field. F2T's were absurdly tough, couple of regs + giraf and robtinnion of pocarr. Missed a 5b jam spot vs tinnion which is annoying, then busted with a lean where I felt like i could fold out most pair and Jx combos:

http://weaktight.com/7265216

Firstly congratulations on the win and your recent form. As a cash player looking to become better at mtts, ive read the reasons for your triple barrel but would you always do this without any equity on the turn. From my perspective i would only barrel an A/Q/K/10 OTT. Then follow that up with a river bet. Was this villian specific or just good aggression play in mtts?

Also any chance of sharing the missed 5b jam spot vs tinnion?


Keep up the good work and more updates in 2015 please

the spot vs tinnion was i 3bet KQo, he cold 4's from the bb, OR folds. Tinnion playing chunks, think I had about 40bb. He loves a bit of a windmill vs me and it's really hard for him to have a calling hand vs me, he knows im aggy and we have alot of history where he has tried to stick it to me, + chatbox being full of his Pocarr mates who all know I'm a solid reg so could have been trying to show off or whatev.

the AQo spot is pretty rare I take this, think he may call AJ otr but we block 1 combo (expect him to fold out AJo). Usually do take the spots where I have equity but on pretty dry board, deep vs a guy who knows this could potentially be life changing money for him he's going to be on the nittier side, just an unfortunate turn for us to run into. this was more situation specific as supposed to villain/aggro specific, would probs shut down in a $22 mtt or similar as don't expect half as many folds.

ty for all the well wishes <3

[Thankfully horse won the UKOPs ME to give me another profitable Sunday]

terrible Sunday, consolation was I started very late so damage limitation. I went really deep in the brawl but punted it with 12 left. I was 5/12 with all the short stacks on my table and the chip leader, I opened and he 3bet the button and I jammed 30 with a7, he was playing like 34/28/14 but I never really do that kinda thing. Was very annoyed with myself, won't moan about the other stuff, due to run bad so thats fine and took it pretty well. Thankfully horse won the UKOPs ME to give me another profitable Sunday.

Have been playing a lot of cash games recently, REALLY enjoying them again and have cut MTT's off now, will still be playing 2x a week next year and every night when I play cash I will include the 100r, 3206m, big 109, b162 and the hot 75,55 just from an hourly pov, for me to be playing a lot of the smaller stuff mid week doesn't make too much sense atm. Not sure about posting results there, maybe monthly or something I don'r know, have done well this week but historically this week is the softest of the year.

My birthday on Tuesday which I'm looking forward to, going to a wellness centre then my favourite restaurant, should be good!

I have a problem atm which is my sleeping, apart from tonight, I've been going to bed at 12-1am every day, waking up at 4am and not being able to go back to sleep, being up for 3 hours then sleeping again, pretty weird, never really had this before, any reason why it could be?

Ooh, £10,000, very nice.

If you or he are interested, I expect they will show the Final Table at the top of tonight's Show, starting at 7pm. It can be viewed Online as well as on real telly. I'm afraid it's very likely that, for TV purposes, his screen name will be modified.

Is there any way to change screen name?

Little embarrassed by it

congrats   

you do know you get your alias engraved on your bracelet

ah god thats so cringe, cant even show it off to the fam. can that be changed tikay?

I don't know, but I would imagine so, yes. Leave it with me. For the purposes of the Bracelet, what would you prefer, "J.Gill"?

The screen-name will remain as is, it's just a bit awkward for Sky TV, not Sky Poker as such.

Yes please!

[Thankfully horse won the UKOPs ME to give me another profitable Sunday]

terrible Sunday, consolation was I started very late so damage limitation. I went really deep in the brawl but punted it with 12 left. I was 5/12 with all the short stacks on my table and the chip leader, I opened and he 3bet the button and I jammed 30 with a7, he was playing like 34/28/14 but I never really do that kinda thing. Was very annoyed with myself, won't moan about the other stuff, due to run bad so thats fine and took it pretty well. Thankfully horse won the UKOPs ME to give me another profitable Sunday.

Have been playing a lot of cash games recently, REALLY enjoying them again and have cut MTT's off now, will still be playing 2x a week next year and every night when I play cash I will include the 100r, 3206m, big 109, b162 and the hot 75,55 just from an hourly pov, for me to be playing a lot of the smaller stuff mid week doesn't make too much sense atm. Not sure about posting results there, maybe monthly or something I don'r know, have done well this week but historically this week is the softest of the year.

My birthday on Tuesday which I'm looking forward to, going to a wellness centre then my favourite restaurant, should be good!

I have a problem atm which is my sleeping, apart from tonight, I've been going to bed at 12-1am every day, waking up at 4am and not being able to go back to sleep, being up for 3 hours then sleeping again, pretty weird, never really had this before, any reason why it could be?

Ooh, £10,000, very nice.

If you or he are interested, I expect they will show the Final Table at the top of tonight's Show, starting at 7pm. It can be viewed Online as well as on real telly. I'm afraid it's very likely that, for TV purposes, his screen name will be modified.

Is there any way to change screen name?

Little embarrassed by it

congrats   

you do know you get your alias engraved on your bracelet

ah god thats so cringe, cant even show it off to the fam. can that be changed tikay?

[Thankfully horse won the UKOPs ME to give me another profitable Sunday]

terrible Sunday, consolation was I started very late so damage limitation. I went really deep in the brawl but punted it with 12 left. I was 5/12 with all the short stacks on my table and the chip leader, I opened and he 3bet the button and I jammed 30 with a7, he was playing like 34/28/14 but I never really do that kinda thing. Was very annoyed with myself, won't moan about the other stuff, due to run bad so thats fine and took it pretty well. Thankfully horse won the UKOPs ME to give me another profitable Sunday.

Have been playing a lot of cash games recently, REALLY enjoying them again and have cut MTT's off now, will still be playing 2x a week next year and every night when I play cash I will include the 100r, 3206m, big 109, b162 and the hot 75,55 just from an hourly pov, for me to be playing a lot of the smaller stuff mid week doesn't make too much sense atm. Not sure about posting results there, maybe monthly or something I don'r know, have done well this week but historically this week is the softest of the year.

My birthday on Tuesday which I'm looking forward to, going to a wellness centre then my favourite restaurant, should be good!

I have a problem atm which is my sleeping, apart from tonight, I've been going to bed at 12-1am every day, waking up at 4am and not being able to go back to sleep, being up for 3 hours then sleeping again, pretty weird, never really had this before, any reason why it could be?

Ooh, £10,000, very nice.

If you or he are interested, I expect they will show the Final Table at the top of tonight's Show, starting at 7pm. It can be viewed Online as well as on real telly. I'm afraid it's very likely that, for TV purposes, his screen name will be modified.

Is there any way to change screen name?

Little embarrassed by it

After a really awful Saturday I geared up for a Sunday, hope for a change in fortunes.

Early doors seemed to be getting to the stage where a flip guarantees either getting ITM with a solid stack or bubbling, unfortunately it was 4/4 for the latter in a couple of ipoker mtt's, the Sunday Warmup and the Big $75, all pretty close to the top of my buyin range.

However managed to find a cash in the B109 and grind through the field. F2T's were absurdly tough, couple of regs + giraf and robtinnion of pocarr. Missed a 5b jam spot vs tinnion which is annoying, then busted with a lean where I felt like i could fold out most pair and Jx combos:

http://weaktight.com/7265216

This meant I finished 14th for about $1.8k. However during this I had abso chunks in the Sky Poker ME. they had their series on so flicked in the £100 £40k (much love for Ambler alerting me to it mid session). Everything went smoothly bar one awful lean 4 handed, had the CL from <18 players and didnt give it up once.

The payouts were outrageous, 1st getting £10k, 2nd getting £5.8k with rly small jumps below. However I won't be complaining having found the win, equating to a $18k payout.

Rly sick end of the year finally meaning I'm in lifetime profit of over $100k, almost $80k of that coming this year alone. Tomorrow will be my last grind of the year before having new years off (Mondays are probs my favourite day)

lovely stuff

Played sessions both yesterday and on the 22nd. Huge brick on the 22nd no runs to report.

Yesterday pre session did a review with thebigdog09 and ambler. thebigdog09 has very similar ideas to me since he as good as brought me up from being a fish reg to a solid reg, so I have his way of thinking installed in my brain so to speak. Ambler has a pretty different style to the two of us, so was really good to get an outside point of view on lines and general strat when deep.

Managed to FT bubble the $55 super stack on tilt, myth of a comp but plays really nice. Then got to the FT of the $55 10k on party with thebigdog09, both got mowed down by some aggy bro who found queens vs him, and found the ol 56o vs my aces where he 3bets huge pre, we peel and he eyeballs the 1043r flop, seeya. 6th for $600 along with some other decent mincashes made it a fairly deece night.

Taking time off over the xmas period before I get grinding again on the 27th, hopefully feeling refreshed. Managed to move up to 651st on Pocketfives which is a nice christmas bonus, thanks to the luckbox win in the Hot $16.50 a week ago. heaaaaaaat

Had a really rough couple of days, got to the doctors due to foot pain and have been told I have gout. Really struggle to walk and gives me shooting pains on the reg, meaning I had to skip yesterday despite double vision looking incred as I would have played at about 20% focus.

Having got given stronger painkillers today however I'm probs going to chance a session.

Started up a blog again, this time on twoplustwo. After crashing and failing numerous times with blogs I'm going to ensure I update after each session I play, will do a pads and post the same here as I do there.

Cliffs to date:

> Late 2013: really average reg (probably) running above EV;

> Early 2014: embarked on my first (serious) backing deal for Low stake MTT's in a great stable;

> Summer 2014: Mid 500 BI downswing* moved to new stable primarily ran by Patrick Leonard (pads1161);

> October 2014: Came out the other side and gradually moved up to midstakes in time for the end of 2014.

*Note graph doesn't show true downswing as new stable had to purchase all vpp's earnt across sites.

Whilst most regs probably claim stuff like this, I legit believe I'm one of the hardest workers in the game. For pretty much all year I've grinded 6 days a week, if not at the very least 5 days a week with regular reviews (Sharkscope suggest I've played 321 days this year to date). I've had rollercoaster highs and lows, which I feel have improved my attitude towards the game.

The aim is to be in highstakes at some point next year, it's hard to put a date on it because downswings happen but if I can get there by the end of the Summer I will be really happy.

During downswings the one thing that kept me really motivated were the Pocketfives rankings. Whilst I know it obviously doesn't measure true ability and profit/loss it does show who some of the toughest grinders are, something I aspire to be in the future. I am currently ranked #802 there, looking to improve on that as time goes by. I haven't got a set $x of profit I aim for as downswing and upswings are obv pretty heavy in MTT's so it's very difficult to work towards a specific pie in the sky figure.

As mentioned previously I will post moans and wins at the end of every session. Leans are always encouraged.

Story of the year:

wow so cold.

great work tho, seems you played really well.

Thanks, felt really comfortable with play tbh on both days. Seemed to be alot of capable players but many of the ones I ran into were looking to spew chunks away and didn't appear too comfortable with folding vs 3bets. Made a lot of hands early on in Day 1 which obv helps and its very easy to play well when make a boat every half an hour vs someone who has top two +

gg'd in sick fashion

Some high stakes guy (so I've been told) opens, I 3bet Q10o from the sb, he 4bets and shows the deuce when I fold.

8 hands later he opens to 2,700 (bb 1,200, he covers me), HJ flats, I find KK in the sb, dreamy. make it 8,700, he tank makes it 20,100 (tanked in the hand where he 4bet showed the deuce obv). Folds round to me, I'm playing about 105k, want to make it look like I have 5bet folds in my range so make it 37,200, he puts me in relatively quickly, we call and are shown dem Aces. Ty for the investment by those involved, feel pretty sick about it but what can we do

Finish the day on 127,300, bb 1k Thursday

130k with 1 level to play