Dirty Dozen Jackpot?

Recently I have dropped down to the lowest value Jackpot games, the $2 Dirty Dozen version in which twelve players start on two tables of six. Win four consecutive games and you get a $2000 Jackpot. Following a three game winning sequence I had a big opportunity to win it. This significant event for me coincided on 5th November with the World Series Of Poker Main Event coming to its exciting conclusion. Congratulations to Ryan Riess on his $8 million dollar haul. I watched a lot of the ESPN coverage, both highlights and live which I really enjoyed. I think he was one of quite a few potentially credible champions and I hope he does poker proud over the next twelve months.

Meanwhile in my more mundane poker world I had to defeat eleven opponents to have my own more modest jackpot payday. As I began I was focused and determined to get to the final table and at least give myself a chance. I had done all the right things in terms of preparation, some of which I have learned from my previous attempts. My internet browser was off, I was focusing on just this one game and I was avoiding any known good regulars. Everyone else in the house was asleep and my wife knew nothing of my opportunity. I had just won two consecutive heads up games on Full Tilt and had stable confidence. I was ready.

Early on things did not go to plan as I sought out an early double up. Then some good progress was quickly reversed with a blind on blind battle, my AJ losing to AK. Now I was short stacked and looking for a good spot to shove whilst playing four handed on this first table. With the final table bubble about to burst I made my move with A6 and was called by pocket tens. I spiked an ace on the turn to give me a workable but lowish stack as the final table began. Luck was massively on my side in this hand but I was happy with both the move I made and obviously the luck I enjoyed. This luck would continue at the final table with an early double up my AJ beating AQ following a JKJ flop. I was running good, playing controlled sit n go poker. Could this be it. Finally a jackpot win? I was making some strong moves including the odd bluff when I sensed weakness to build up my stack without risking my tournament life. The defining hand occurred three handed, the chip leader having roughly 7000 chips, me with 3000 and the short stack with roughly 2000. With blinds approaching 200-400 there would not be a lot more action. The short stack limped when first to act. Instinctively in the small blind I shoved my A5. A move I have made a thousand times and will a thousand more. In these circumstances his hand is medium strength almost all the time. Too weak to shove, too good to fold. The big stack in the big blind folded and after a short dwell the short stack called with his QJ. A jack on the flop left me with less than ten percent of the overall chips and struggling. Had I won the hand I would have been heads up for $2000. I fought on valiantly for a few more hands but eventually my K8 shove lost to A3 for a return of $3.60!

Having missed out once again I was disappointed for sure but the overwhelming feeling was one of satisfaction. Firstly that I had got into this position and secondly that I had given it a really good go. That's all you can do. Despite my failure to win I was happy with my play, felt I had not made any mistakes and had played aggressive enough to give myself a chance. Jared Tendler would be proud.

Hopefully I won't have to wait eighteen months for the next Jackpot opportunity. 

Transient Bay

This is Transient Bay, my latest venture into racehorse ownership. Funded by my poker profits I have a five percent share. He is trained in Middleham, North Yorkshire by Phillip Kirby who is really making a name for himself and his expanding yard in 2013. If I was to compare him to a poker player it would be to Tom Middleton. Relatively unheard of until a couple of years ago this northern poker pro has had some notable wins this year, including EPT Barcelona. Like Tom, great things are expected of Phil over the next few years and hopefully I have joined the Kirby bandwagon just at the right time. Poker and horse racing certainly share the common theme that both luck and skill dictate the level of success or failure. Neither need to worry too much about the latter.

I have recently started a new blog which is the story of my journey to all the British racecourses. At the moment I have completed fifty of the fifty eight. I am recording my latest visits to new courses, such as Fontwell and Goodwood earlier this year and also reflecting on my earlier visits. Like my poker blog it exists primarily for me but if anyone else finds it of interest then that is a bonus. Check out:

 

www.alltheracecourses.blogspot.com

 

If I don't see you at the virtual poker felt then maybe see you at a racecourse sometime soon.

 

Daily Double Delight

My life and my poker are running pretty good in October. Last night I had the perfect mental setting for what became my best poker night of the year. I started playing straight after England qualified for the World Cup in Brazil next year by beating Poland 2-0. Whilst this gave me a massive mood boost my general sense of well-being is at a highpoint. We are busy at work. My daughter looks increasingly like getting into a wonderful secondary school. We are currently voting to name my latest racehorse. My family are all enjoying good health and we have just booked the holiday of a lifetime at Disneyland Florida for next year. I also recently watched my first live NFL game at Wembley Stadium. OK so I look like shit and am always tired but you can't have everything!

Anyway I played the Full Tilt daily double games, around one hundred and fifty players competing in each. My returns for my 2 x $12 investment and around three hours of my time were as follows:

$90 for 5th place in game A

$90 for 5th place in game B

$6.96 for cashing in both games

$37.14 for the best average finish in both games

$371.41 for final tabling both games

I played really well and also got good cards or won some key coin tosses when I needed to most. Just shy of $600 is a pretty good nights work and I have generally been doing well in these games and the Dirty Dozen Jackpot games in October. To keep my feet on the ground my tentative action on Pokerstars continues to be for no reward.

Good luck
Jason (Kartajana)

Fourth Quarter

In the fourth quarter of the year I am focusing on only specific games per site. Following a more random approach I have found some games I can both enjoy and exploit. In terms of the search for a Jackpot win I am dropping down to the lowest level for now, the $2 Dirty Dozen games (Four wins equals $2000). Not a life changing amount sure, but it would be great to win one and I am confident I can make a few cents per game along the way. The discipline of sticking to the same games will help with both focus and tilt control.

I recently attended the Minnesota Vikings v Pittsburgh Steelers NFL game at Wembley Stadium. In that game the Steelers were seventeen points adrift going into its final phase. Like me they needed a good fourth quarter to turn things around. They gave it a good shot, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger using all his experience to put them in with a chance. I need to do the same.

Here we go Steelers, here we go!

Random Poker

In my quest to find a profitable seam of poker in September I have played a random variety of games on different sites but for the first time since it restarted I have played most of my poker on Full Tilt. I have been taking part in the two $12 Daily Doubles tournaments which are standard multi-table tournaments but with a bonus twist. If you cash in both you get a bonus of around $25, if you final table both you get around $400. Winning both gets you around $2000. I like this kind of concept and the timing fits in well with the games being played from around 9pm to 1am. With around 150 players each night, bonuses are not too unrealistic. I have only played a dozen or so nights and have had one double cash and a fifth place for $90. Hopefully a big result is just around the corner. As well as these tournaments I have unusually been playing quite a bit of heads up which I have really enjoyed. Mainly at the $10 level, the focus needed in these one on one battles is great as is the rematch option. To be honest I have probably lost as many as I have won but have enjoyed the diversity they bring. No two opponents seem to be alike.

 

Meanwhile I am still playing a lot of "Brussels" six man sit n gos on Betfred Ipoker which has been a bit up and down but overall solid enough. For the year I am making around 60 cents per game over a pretty large sample which in the current poker economic is pretty good I think.

Me and Pokerstars are currently on a break in our relationship due to a couple of key software problems. One is that my settings on the site keep lapsing which means a lot of frustration resetting each time I play. The second is that the Pokerstars random card generator has somehow taken a dislike to me. Following a Sunday Million satellite win a few weeks ago I spent the $215 tournament dollars on dozens of sit n go games which generated around $18!  You know you are in trouble when you think maybe changing your picture icon might help!

Good Luck

 

Brussels Sprout Bankroll

My sit n go challenge has gone well over the last ten days. I have played fifty $10 games, mainly the six-man Brussels game on I-Poker, which is easily the most active at this buy in. Whilst there have been a few ten man games mixed in, it is the six man games in particular that have help see my bankroll sprout forward. I have benefited from the freedom the chip structure provides in these games compared to the jackpot games.  I have been able to play more poker and rely less on fixed strategy and maths based luck. These six max games are much more time efficient too as I don't start them with a fairly inactive fifteen minutes as happens in the Maui Jackpot games. Obviously I have also benefited from only paying the standard rake too. An extra $50 in rake would make a massive difference to the outcome, particularly in the long term. Anyway I can report a profit of $122, a ROI of 22% and progress like this:

I have enjoyed this challenge so much I am going to continue playing these games for now before having another bash at the jackpot games. For sure I have won more than my fair share of coin flips in this small sample of fifty but I feel positive again. I believe I can realistically win $1 per game at this level. I just need to prove that now over a bigger sample of games. See you at the tables. Just don't stand behind me!

Cheers

Jason (Kartajana)

Month End Challenge

In an attempt to end July with a positive feel I am setting myself a short term poker challenge. Ten days, fifty sit n gos. What is the worst that can happen? (see below for answer). I am hoping this mini challenge will rekindle my focus, reignite my form and reverse the general direction of my bankroll. For a change I am going to play the non Jackpot sit n gos. No tight chip structure, no winning runs considerations, no double rake, no excuses. To make it a proper test I will play $10 games.

My performance so far this year has been disappointing. My recent form is also poor and I am running fairly bad I believe. More importantly both my profitable edge in poker and my enthusiasm for poker have dwindled somewhat this year. The two are definitely intertwined but I cannot see the real cause and effect. Which one is driving the other. Hopefully this mini challenge can give me some insight. I will report on my progress both financially and otherwise.

This year the number of my poker blog posts have also been in decline. This is not unconnected to the previous paragraph but I have also been focusing my energies on a new blog I have been working on. This relates to my other great passion, horse racing. More on this soon.

(Answer: In the last ten days of July I could lose fifty seven buy ins ($627). Poor play, lots of bad luck and really bad counting!)