Dirty Dozen Jackpot Sit N Go

I like the Dirty Dozen Jackpot games. I also loved the film from around forty five years ago. However the $2 buy in is too low for me really. The structure is two tables of six players battling for four cashing places. Whilst this game is very beatable the rate per game I acheive is not optimal. The Jackpot aside, I am only going to make a dollar or two per hour playing these games (maybe four or five at once). Safe and steady but not very profitable. Possibly they have a role as a warm up game. The Jackpot is $2000 for winning four on the trot. I have once had a shot following three wins at this and missed out. My record in these games to date is below. Based on my win rate of c11.5% I should win a jackpot every 6000 games. It would be nice to win one but I probably won't spend a lot of my time trying.

Kartajana

482

$0.35

$2

15%

$169

-

N/A

iPoker

E12-12 S2-2 SNG Only

If you play the Dirty Dozen games good luck to you and maybe I'll see you at the tables.

Jason (Kartajana)

Mixing It Up

Having removed the shackles of my Maui only approach I am now enjoying the freedom to play all the varied Jackpot Sit N Go games - with mixed success. Part of the problem is playing different formats at the same time. My $5 Maui game has deteriorated as I adjust to a more six man table focus. I am having some success with the new $10 Craze Jackpot which has three tables of six players (win four on the trot for $50000). The $2 Dirty Dozen is going OK. At the $20 Rio and $50 Fort Knox six man tables I am finding it tough to adjust to a structure that creates significant variance, though I am confident I can find my rhythm soon. The big problem with these games is you can lose quite a lot in one bad session. Last week I made a classic error when on the bubble of a $50 game taking on the dominant stack when playing to cash was the optimum strategy. Being used to the $5 games meant this actually hurt quite a bit. I do still get frustrated if I lose based on bad judgement. I need to keep working on both aspects of this. 1) Don't make such mistakes, 2) If you make a mistake learn from it and don't let it lead to more!   Over the coming weeks I plan to review each of the Jackpot Sit N Go formats in turn focusing on the rules, my previous results, my ongoing strategy and future plans.

Watch Out - Shark Attack!

In a late twist it seems I have been awarded with a top twenty Sharkscope ranking after all. I am currently showing as twentieth for 2011 at the $5 sit n go level. Given we are a few days into 2012 I am hoping that is it. I have no idea how I sneaked on there as I was sure I was bit short. However, as it was an objective for 2011 I am very pleased with that.   One interesting aspect here is whether this helps or hinders me. Some players like to block their statistics hiding their good or poor quality results. Maybe it is just vanity on my part but I do work hard on my Sharkscope statistics and also use them to assess opponents. Maybe it will make a few players be more wary of me. I like to think in the late game element of a sit n go I get away with shoving all sorts partly because I am perceived as a good solid player rather than loose and reckless. Perhaps ultimately it is mainly about me. As this gives me confidence I can only view the implications as positive.   Just be careful next time you go swimming!

2011 Review

My 2011 poker path was winding and included some really good spells as well as some tilt induced downswings. The jackpot close call in February was in a sense both the highlight of the year and my worst moment. Thats poker and the stats below show the truth of my year 2011 and my Maui challenge. I am proud of my effort but will continue to work hard to get better in 2012.

Over the 3000 games there is a very good trend line above but I cannot ignore the fact I made little progress over the final two months. Below I am very happy with my finishing position distribution. If anything I needed to gamble a bit more in the mid to late game to reduce my thirds in favour of more wins and more fourths and fifths.

A big adjustment I now need to make playing more six handed sit n gos is retuning to the optimium strategy which is somewhat different to the ten man game. Early in 2012 I am already being tested in this respect.

December Result: +$162, Overall: +$3315 - Challenge Failed!

A little Christmas cheer helped my late month results but overall December was not a good month. In the end around a $63 Maui profit added to just under $100 in rakeback and freeroll cashes pushed my total to only $3315 - $685 short. Not a bad effort overall but a failed challenge nonetheless. I am particularly disappointed not to make the Sharkscope top twenty list. Probably only around $50-$75 short here. A static last couple of months has cost me as I dropped off the chart in the last week or so. To be fair I do not deserve the accolade but it would have been nice. I am very much ready for a new poker year and a bit of variation in my play as per my last post. I have a new found respect for the real sit n go grinders out there who play the 3000 games each month not every year. It has been tough going at times and I have had to work hard to complete the total number of games let alone do well in them. My result summary for the 3000 Maui games is as follows: Kartajana          3,000 $0.55   $5   9% $1,655   - N/A iPoker Year2011 SNG Only I will do a more detailed post analysing the figures in more detail in a few days. I will also update my blog for the new year and a slightly adjusted challenge for 2012. In the meantime please feel free to comment on my outcome. Thanks for reading in 2011 and good luck at the tables in 2012 Jason (Kartajana)

Plans for next year

As we approach the end of another year my thoughts have turned to my poker plans for 2012. Having just read a new article from Jared Tendler on achieving your new year poker resolutions I have adjusted the original draft of this blog. I have reduced the number of aims (though I still seem to have a lot) and focused more on the reason behind my aims. See:   http://www.pokernews.com/news/2011/12/how-to-achieve-your-new-years-resolution-11706.htm   The main themes are as follows: To continue my blog. It has been useful I think in terms of my focus. My results are better than 2010 partly because of it. Hopefully there are a few other people out there who are happy about this too which also motivates me. To continue with my Jackpot Sit N Go focus but I will not exclusively play the Maui games. I have had good record in the other variations and it will be nice to play some other games to be honest. To get a new laptop at some point. My current one is struggling a bit and I would benefit from a bigger screen. To play a little less poker, focusing more on important things like my family, my health and my job whilst at the same time making more money. A wonderful concept at least. To set a new challenge total of $5000 for 2012 which incorporates my poker activity on all sites, though my I-Poker activity will remain dominant. Within this to have some specific monthly and quarterly challenges. This will help my activity stay fresh and more fun. If I get in a downswing I can switch formats which has helped me in the past. To learn and play some Pot Limit Omaha. The book I am reading by Phil Gordon, which is disappointing to date has a big section on it. I have previously read a lot about how learning a new game can give new motivation and understanding to a poker player. To consider trying a new poker site, probably Party Poker taking advantage of a good rakeback deal. This is the one major site I have yet to try and it would provide me with a new challenge, though I am in no rush to do this. Most of all to continue to enjoy my poker and spend some of my winnings. Linking my winnings to actual items purchased or specific events enjoyed should help my focus through 2012.   Good Luck and Happy New Year   Jason (Kartajana)

Ten days to go

With ten days to go of my Maui Challenge 2011 I am in need of my own Christmas miracle! Progress in December has been slow and uncomfortable akin to Mary's donkey ride to Bethlehem all those years ago. I am only around $40 dollars ahead so far this month. My main aim now is to have a solid last week or so and end the year with a Sharkscope top twenty ranking. This is looking touch and go at the moment as I am clinging on to twentieth spot as of today.

Merry Christmas.