[Insert funny and witty diary title here]

[AJR14]

Hi AJR,

Good luck with the Diary.

Think I MAY know of you from next door, though I have no idea what your screen-name there is. (An oddity of the Data Protection Act is that I cannot ASK you that question, but you CAN tell me if you wish. Weird thing, the DPA).

Good to hear you have moved up to 30NL, & are profitable at that level.

I have a question for you - a perfectly serious one.

If you are profitable at 30NL (we are talking £ here, not $), why are you hoping to move up to what is, without any doubt, a tougher level?

Why not just play more Tables, or put in more hours, at 30NL?

This question may surprise you, or others. "Moving up levels" seems to be wired into our minds - no matter what level ANY player plays at, & beats, they have a desire to move up to the next level. It's almost like a paternal instinct in a lady.

If you can make - say - £50 per week at 30NL, why not just stay at that level & count the £50's rolling in each week, or double the volume & earn £100 per week?

As a supplementary, & rhetorical question, I assume you know roughly what % of poker players actually make money playing poker. Not many...... So if you have found a level you are profitable at, & unless you are some kind of poker genius, why not stay at 30NL?

Look forward to this Diary.

Wow, Hi Tikay. Great to get a reply from someone who i believe has helped me out a lot in the past without actually speaking one to one. When starting out 'next door', a lot of the work you do over there helped me out a hell of a lot and was one of the reasons i managed to get through the early levels and beyond so ty sir!

The name is AJ_Rockets on there, i cant recall speaking directly to you but i have been about for a while so you may recognise the name.

To the question,

Im obviously a poker genius so.... no in all seriousness its something Ive never thought about. In all aspects of my life i'm very competitive (you should see the games of snakes and ladders v me and my also very competitive little niece) so when moving up it brings the competitive side out. When i stay at one level too long it can start to feel a bit stale and some of my enjoyment of poker dwindles and i just play solely for the money. So i suppose (other than the money) moving up keeps me more interested in the game meaning i then have the motivation to work hard on my game. There has been times i have got to the point of just playing for the money and it didn't go well lol.  

[AJR14]

Are you the next Blackburn manager?

Lol. I'm very close to sending in my Footy Manager CV. The worst thing is, it would not surprise me in the slightest if i got through to the interview stage!

[tikay]

Hi AJR,

Good luck with the Diary.

Think I MAY know of you from next door, though I have no idea what your screen-name there is. (An oddity of the Data Protection Act is that I cannot ASK you that question, but you CAN tell me if you wish. Weird thing, the DPA).

Good to hear you have moved up to 30NL, & are profitable at that level.

I have a question for you - a perfectly serious one.

If you are profitable at 30NL (we are talking £ here, not $), why are you hoping to move up to what is, without any doubt, a tougher level?

Why not just play more Tables, or put in more hours, at 30NL?

This question may surprise you, or others. "Moving up levels" seems to be wired into our minds - no matter what level ANY player plays at, & beats, they have a desire to move up to the next level. It's almost like a paternal instinct in a lady.

If you can make - say - £50 per week at 30NL, why not just stay at that level & count the £50's rolling in each week, or double the volume & earn £100 per week?

As a supplementary, & rhetorical question, I assume you know roughly what % of poker players actually make money playing poker. Not many...... So if you have found a level you are profitable at, & unless you are some kind of poker genius, why not stay at 30NL?

Look forward to this Diary.

Wow, Hi Tikay. Great to get a reply from someone who i believe has helped me out a lot in the past without actually speaking one to one. When starting out 'next door', a lot of the work you do over there helped me out a hell of a lot and was one of the reasons i managed to get through the early levels and beyond so ty sir!

The name is AJ_Rockets on there, i cant recall speaking directly to you but i have been about for a while so you may recognise the name.

To the question,

Im obviously a poker genius so.... no in all seriousness its something Ive never thought about. In all aspects of my life i'm very competitive (you should see the games of snakes and ladders v me and my also very competitive little niece) so when moving up it brings the competitive side out. When i stay at one level too long it can start to feel a bit stale and some of my enjoyment of poker dwindles and i just play solely for the money. So i suppose (other than the money) moving up keeps me more interested in the game meaning i then have the motivation to work hard on my game. There has been times i have got to the point of just playing for the money and it didn't go well lol.  

Yes, I understand, that all makes perfect sense.

Glad I was able to be of some assistance when you first began. I only do "Level One" stuff, but that IS very important, as we take these basic disciplines right through our poker life. Seemingly little things like the importance of position apply no matter what level we play at. I still try to help the newcomers next door, but the general level of ability, or perceived ability, is far higher on blonde, so I never ever give "hand advice" here, though I do try & help folks with psychological stuff.

You should take a look at the Poker Hand Analysis Board we have here - some incredibly good advice there, though you will need to be able to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Good luck with the poker, & the Diary. We are getting a lot of new Diaries & Members of late, & the place is very much better for their presence.

[AJR14]

Cool.  I'm not doing the coaching though.  I'm just paying someone else for it, but happy to discuss the merits of the course and other bits I have been doing,

ah ok, misread your first post .

If you don't mind me asking i have a few questions as like i said it is something i have been considering myself. Any you don't want to answer that's fine.

You been doing it long? You noticed how much it has helped your game? What areas do you think it has helped you with the most? has your end results improved?
Is there a huge difference in one 2 one coaching when compared to video coaching sites?

[AJR14]

Hi AJR14

Please rank the following films in order of brilliance and explain your reasoning:

Police Academy
Airplane!
Hotshots!
Goodfellas
Hook
The Dark Knight
Casino Royale
Rounders

Please note your answers will be marked berated by a panel of experts anyone who happens to see your thread.


An excellent start to your thread-owning career, may I say, sir.

looking through that list i have only seen half of them. Out of the 4 i have seen:

Tough to pick between the top 2 between Dark Knight and Goodfellas. Both great films but think Goodfellas pips it for me. In fact just watched The Dark Knight Rises for the 2nd time over weekend and think i may actually think its better than the Dark Knight. Very close though and may be because i have seen Dark Knight a lot.

3rd would have to be Hook, there is a lot of good family films from when i was young and this is definitely one of the better ones.

Rounders is a good solid film, nothing spectacular but a good watch.

Out of the rest i havent seen, any you strongly recommend? i have just received Casino Royale on love film so gonna watch it soon. Also if there is any good recommendations i will stick them on the to watch list. 

Ending of Goodfellas is something I have an irrational loathing towards. I don't care whether it is based on a true story. End it properly! Such a good film until then.

If you've never seen Airplane or Hotshots, I can't really take this any further. Both unimaginably silly, will fill two hours without you wanting to get up and make a drink and you'll find yourself quoting bits to other people without realising it.

They are both now on my list and will update my views when watched lol

[RED-DOG]

Hi AJR,

Good luck with the Diary.
It
Think I MAY know of you from next door, though I have no idea what your screen-name there is. (An oddity of the Data Protection Act is that I cannot ASK you that question, but you CAN tell me if you wish. Weird thing, the DPA).

Good to hear you have moved up to 30NL, & are profitable at that level.

I have a question for you - a perfectly serious one.

If you are profitable at 30NL (we are talking £ here, not $), why are you hoping to move up to what is, without any doubt, a tougher level?

Why not just play more Tables, or put in more hours, at 30NL?

This question may surprise you, or others. "Moving up levels" seems to be wired into our minds - no matter what level ANY player plays at, & beats, they have a desire to move up to the next level. It's almost like a paternal instinct in a lady.

If you can make - say - £50 per week at 30NL, why not just stay at that level & count the £50's rolling in each week, or double the volume & earn £100 per week?

As a supplementary, & rhetorical question, I assume you know roughly what % of poker players actually make money playing poker. Not many...... So if you have found a level you are profitable at, & unless you are some kind of poker genius, why not stay at 30NL?

Look forward to this Diary.

Wow, Hi Tikay. Great to get a reply from someone who i believe has helped me out a lot in the past without actually speaking one to one. When starting out 'next door', a lot of the work you do over there helped me out a hell of a lot and was one of the reasons i managed to get through the early levels and beyond so ty sir!

The name is AJ_Rockets on there, i cant recall speaking directly to you but i have been about for a while so you may recognise the name.

To the question,

Im obviously a poker genius so.... no in all seriousness its something Ive never thought about. In all aspects of my life i'm very competitive (you should see the games of snakes and ladders v me and my also very competitive little niece) so when moving up it brings the competitive side out. When i stay at one level too long it can start to feel a bit stale and some of my enjoyment of poker dwindles and i just play solely for the money. So i suppose (other than the money) moving up keeps me more interested in the game meaning i then have the motivation to work hard on my game. There has been times i have got to the point of just playing for the money and it didn't go well lol.  

For the record, Tony has also helped my poker career by not speaking....

[VBlue]

you'll find yourself quoting bits to other people without realising it.

Hanging Lady: Nervous?
Ted Striker: Yes.
Hanging Lady: First time?
Ted Striker: No, I've been nervous lots of times

------

Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious.
Rumack: I am serious... and don't call me Shirley.

[AJR14]

Hi AJR,

Good luck with the Diary.

Think I MAY know of you from next door, though I have no idea what your screen-name there is. (An oddity of the Data Protection Act is that I cannot ASK you that question, but you CAN tell me if you wish. Weird thing, the DPA).

Good to hear you have moved up to 30NL, & are profitable at that level.

I have a question for you - a perfectly serious one.

If you are profitable at 30NL (we are talking £ here, not $), why are you hoping to move up to what is, without any doubt, a tougher level?

Why not just play more Tables, or put in more hours, at 30NL?

This question may surprise you, or others. "Moving up levels" seems to be wired into our minds - no matter what level ANY player plays at, & beats, they have a desire to move up to the next level. It's almost like a paternal instinct in a lady.

If you can make - say - £50 per week at 30NL, why not just stay at that level & count the £50's rolling in each week, or double the volume & earn £100 per week?

As a supplementary, & rhetorical question, I assume you know roughly what % of poker players actually make money playing poker. Not many...... So if you have found a level you are profitable at, & unless you are some kind of poker genius, why not stay at 30NL?

Look forward to this Diary.

Wow, Hi Tikay. Great to get a reply from someone who i believe has helped me out a lot in the past without actually speaking one to one. When starting out 'next door', a lot of the work you do over there helped me out a hell of a lot and was one of the reasons i managed to get through the early levels and beyond so ty sir!

The name is AJ_Rockets on there, i cant recall speaking directly to you but i have been about for a while so you may recognise the name.

To the question,

Im obviously a poker genius so.... no in all seriousness its something Ive never thought about. In all aspects of my life i'm very competitive (you should see the games of snakes and ladders v me and my also very competitive little niece) so when moving up it brings the competitive side out. When i stay at one level too long it can start to feel a bit stale and some of my enjoyment of poker dwindles and i just play solely for the money. So i suppose (other than the money) moving up keeps me more interested in the game meaning i then have the motivation to work hard on my game. There has been times i have got to the point of just playing for the money and it didn't go well lol.  

Yes, I understand, that all makes perfect sense.

Glad I was able to be of some assistance when you first began. I only do "Level One" stuff, but that IS very important, as we take these basic disciplines right through our poker life. Seemingly little things like the importance of position apply no matter what level we play at. I still try to help the newcomers next door, but the general level of ability, or perceived ability, is far higher on blonde, so I never ever give "hand advice" here, though I do try & help folks with psychological stuff.

You should take a look at the Poker Hand Analysis Board we have here - some incredibly good advice there, though you will need to be able to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Good luck with the poker, & the Diary. We are getting a lot of new Diaries & Members of late, & the place is very much better for their presence.

Yeah agree about the basic principles, unfortunately i self taught poker before i had any clue so therefore had a lot of bad habits which you helped a lot with and are definitely one of the 2 reasons i turned from a losing player to a winning one. Bizarrely the other one was the first poker book i ever read called 'play poker like the pros' by the lovely Phil Helmuth lol. Re-read it recently and have no idea how it helped, really is a poor book.

[Tal]

VBlue is showing you the way.

[AJR14]

1st poker update

Any hopes of some start of the diary run good has soon disappeared. Although I’m not down a lot in money, hardly anything in fact, my play has been pretty poor and the cards haven’t been running my way.

This diary won’t be a moaning diary, but when I decided to start, I decided I would only do it if I was frank and truthful with every issue I was experiencing. So here is the first.

I’m not sure whether any readers play on Sky, but if you do let me know.

Although there are a few decent regs at this level, the majority are recreational and inexperienced players or one or two tabling semi regs. This means that the level can be profitable but can also sometimes be high variance, something that only recently has started to cause some tilt issues for me. The main issues aren’t with how people have played their hand etc but is with my decision making and the way I play the hand. When I make bad calls etc I get really annoyed with myself. Even when I make the correct call and lose, I can’t help results orientated thinking entering my mind. This without a doubt has started to affect my play later on in sessions

I’ve played poker seriously for about 2 years now and it’s something I have never suffered with until recently. Bizarrely, when the tilt started was right around the time that I started to work on my game. When I used to sit down and just play it never happened.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggles with tilt and would be really helpful to see how others deal with it or have managed to completely stop tilt issues. I have read the mental game of poker which I am just about to read again and actually do what he says to do this time, but any other help would be great.

[titaniumbean]

  i've played 4 or 5 hands on sky before



re tilt, just don't simples.

[scotty77]

Hey AJ.

Think I've played a few hands with you, def recognise you from just around the site tho.

Be interesting to read about a fellow Sky reg so good luck with it

[AJR14]

The Poker hasn’t gone too well since starting this thread. Just been looking through my HH’s and although there are quite a few coolers I’m really not happy with how I’m playing at the moment. After losing around 5 buy ins last night and another withdrawal I am going to have to drop down to 20nl for a week or so and rebuild, not only the bankroll, but the confidence. I know 5 buy in loses are normal but when coupled with the rest of the week i definitely have to move down for a short while.

Moving down the levels is something that doesn’t bother me as I’m really strict with the roll so I’m always moving up and down. In fact I am probably playing a different level every couple of weeks. However this time I am bit more disappointed with it as I haven’t had to drop to 20nl for a very long time. I have played quite a few hands there recently but that was mainly due to lack of 30nl tables running so I would play 20nl while starting new tables.

I would post a couple of the hands here but haven’t yet found a way to move SkyPoker HH’s on here without it pasting in an god awful way and taking an obscene amount of time to make it look reasonable. So instead i will give a quick summary of one or two major hands

1-   Tried to make an unknown fold in a 3bet pot with a pretty obvious JJ/KK on  x10xAx board – Obv shouldn’t be trying this v an unknown, they called w/ KK

2-   Calling down a poor aggro player with AJ on 9445x after they pot donk flop, check turn then pot river only to see AK (a hand i had completely discounted as they didn’t 3bet pre, something i would expect) The only hand i was worried about here was AQ or maybe some low pairs they are turning into a bluff

3-   Value betting TPTK v good reg who will always 3bet JJ+ except for this time when they turn over QQ on Jxxxx


I know the above way isn’t the best way to summarise hands, i will work out how best to do it for the future. I will probably be posting some hands in the poker hand analysis section at some point over the next couple of days.

[titaniumbean]

options for sky hhs

remember the details and retype,

or open the full detail chat window, and copy paste the betting information there, remember to note stack sizes other information that isn't contained.

[AJR14]

Hey AJ.

Think I've played a few hands with you, def recognise you from just around the site tho.

Be interesting to read about a fellow Sky reg so good luck with it

i've played 4 or 5 hands on sky before



re tilt, just don't simples.

Yeah think ive donated to you both on my brief ventures to the higher stakes.

Would be interested to know both views on 50nl+ on Sky and whether when moving up you would advise playing those levels on Sky or whether different sites are better. Ive never really played on other sites and i know 50nl+ on Sky has got a bit of a reputation for being really nitty.