Breaks can be good!!

So after a little rush of good tournament scores, I went back to the cash games. I then lost $1100 online in the cash games. So I emptied my stars account (so at least u have a 5 day cooling off until it hits your bank account :D) But I imposed a 10 day ban on cash games, which I can't believe i stuck to :D

So i just played small sit and go's and the odd tourney, nothing major at all.

Played the local £50 freezeout on Thursday and took first place, good for £800, there were no deals or savers, so was a good result. I got heads up with the gentleman Paul Henderson, who provides his home for an amazing home game every few months. (next one being next Friday May 1st)

The heads up was a good battle, and I overcame a 3-1 chip lead and won.

So plans.

Well, I was thinking of setting myself a challenge, like deposit $500-$1k in stars, and then play within my bankroll (5% max rule of bankroll at table at any one time) and try and spin it up, and really follow bankroll management strategy.

However, I dipped into those sort of stakes and it really is bad, all in blind for stacks etc, so I cannot see it benefiting my game or furthering my education as a poker player!

As a result, If i am playing cash online, i am going to be in the right frame of mind, and play minimum 50-$1 NLHE, up to $3-$6NLHE. Depending on, mindset, game selection and of course bankroll :D

So upcoming tournament plans..............

Next Weekend is busy, local casino open 24 hrs a day from May 1st right through Bank Holiday weekend!! I really hope after pauls home game (which finishes early hours of sat morning) I do not end up in casino and there right through until monday! That would be kind of sickness personified :D But you never know :P

May 1st - Friday Night, Hendo's Home Game, £50 + 1 add on/rebuy, usually 30+ players so £3-£4k in the pot, great night and lively cash games also.

After Hendos, probably head down to casino, it's open 24 hrs a day from May 1st - 5th May, if a few boys fancy it, they are putting on a breakfast buffet and cash games and sit and gos 24 hrs a day :D Should be fun if busy!!

Saturday:-Might be playing cash games all day, Hatton fight at night and tourney next day, although gonna have to fit some sleep in somewhere!!

May 3rd - Sunday, £100 freezeout in Dundee Gala Casino, 10k chips 45 minute levels, should be a good game, tons of dead money etc etc.

I am looking to download Coral Poker software and start to play some satellites for the British Masters Poker to be held in the Maybury 15th-17th May Main Event is £500 buy in, 10k chips with 1hr clock, love tournaments like this. Made day 2 last night, and made a squeeze/type blow up that i would never do now. So really want to get to the Maybury and avenge that :D Side events are £100 and £200. Not sure if i will play them, they always turn into crapshoots, will see though.

So a few decent tourneys coming up, and a few opportunities for decent live cash games.

Lets hope my next post is a brag post and all about taking down a few things and juicy scores at the cash tables ;)

Good Luck

Barry x x

Round 2, Gingertoys 5th, Mig.com 563rd :P

UPDATE, now uploaded video of me on final table, please ignore some of the babble :D Those of u that know me will get some of the jokes :P
To watch, go to this link http://www.esnips.com/doc/a311dead-a304-4c3f-a27c-d9349a54e159/$50k-GTD-on-Pokerstars

Just finished playing the $50k GTD on pokerstars, $55 buy in. 990 runners, I finished 5th for $2620, played so well, I actually think I played as good as, if not better, than the 24th place finish in the Sunday Warmup. I made some great reads, and made a few moves, kind of standard squeezes etc, but was really feeling it.

As with any tourney, I also got super lucky in a couple of spots, notably on the final table. JUST SICK HANDS EVERYWHERE.

I have recorded the whole final table with my babbling commentary on it, I will need to watch it first as I was talking constant garbage, hopefully I can post it here anyway. If not, friends can have a private screening :D

Here is a timeline of a few key hands in the tourney that got me to the final table.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?4056372 :- This hand was relatively early on in the tournament, I had a read on the guy, and went with it, i think he has flush draw at absolute max, or complete air (going on previous hands with myself and others)

http://www.pokerhand.org/?4056772 :- Ok, I am a luckbox and it is amazing I have not won a major yet :P (actually player named st@ rk, had been 3 betting me alot whenever i raised, so I was delighted to pick up AA, obviously lucky he was as strong as KK this time lol)

http://www.pokerhand.org/?4056875 :- Stutter step, to show I do not play perfectly, I kind of bottled it on the river, perhaps he calls anyway, I think in hindsight, firing the turn was needed.

http://www.pokerhand.org/?4057655 :- AND I'M OUT :( kind of ironic, or some sick jibe by the poker gods, 1010 put me out my deep run in the warm up, and this time i go out with 1010 :D

Final thoughts, I played very well, and have been doing so for the last 3-4 months, I am starting to see results. You are never going to play every hand perfectly, there were times I got super lucky, especially on the final table when I was short stacked my AA cracked USCPHILDO's AA, another online superstar got a taste of the toys ;)

Really, watch this space. If I continue to learn, develop and improve, and keep going over my game. I know that a final table, and maybe, just maybe, a 1st in one of the majors ;) xxxx

Good Luck at the tables.

P.S RUNNING LIKE ME HELPS :P xxxxx